In a breach of the Supreme Court’s directive, it has been revealed that 340 police stations across Gujarat have non-functioning CCTV cameras. The Supreme Court mandated in December 2020 that all police stations must maintain operational surveillance systems 24/7 to ensure accountability and prevent deaths in custody. 

This situation comes amidst rising concerns over the alarming number of custodial deaths in Gujarat, with at least 80 reported cases in 5 years.

Despite the state Home Department’s acknowledgment that many CCTV cameras are inoperative due to technical issues, the lack of action to repair or replace these systems raises serious questions about police oversight. The Supreme Court also stipulated that recordings should be maintained for a minimum of 18 months to facilitate investigations into allegations of misconduct.

The Gujarat High Court previously echoed the Supreme Court’s orders, declaring that operational CCTV cameras are essential for transparency in police operations. However, nothing has been done to address this pressing issue, leading to growing public outrage.

With an average of 12 custodial deaths reported each year in Gujarat, the need for reliable monitoring has grown more critical.

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Gujarat HC orders to install CCTVs in registry by Jan 2024