CCTV Cameras Made Operational In 423 Police Stations, 153 Police Posts All Mandatory Parts Under Surveillance: Punjab DGP To High Court

The Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) has submitted before the Punjab & Haryana High Court that CCTV Cameras have been made operational in 423 Police Stations (except one Women Police Station at Malerkotla), 31 CIA Staff premises and 153 Police Posts.

The development came after the single bench of Justice N.S. Shekhawat had earlier directed the Punjab DGP to file his personal affidavit with regard to installation of CCTV cameras in police stations, in compliance with Supreme Court's order in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh.The Supreme Court had in Paramveer Singh Saini directed that CCTV cameras must be installed with a storage period of 18 months. The court was hearing an accused's bail plea in a NDPS case while also seeking directions to handover his case to an independent agency. The accused was booked under Sections 22, 29 of NDPS Act at Police Station Sultanpur Lodhi, District Kapurthala. The court had earlier granted the accused interim bail. 

Stating that there are “reasons to believe” that the directions passed by the Supreme Court have not been complied with by the State of Punjab, the High Court had previously made specific queries to the DGP. In compliance with the directions, the DGP filed the affidavit detailing the installation of CCTV Cameras in Punjab.

"All areas of Police Stations, CIA Staff premises and Police Posts have been covered under CCTV surveillance system. The entry and exit points and all mandatory parts of the Police Stations, CIA Staff premises and Police Posts have been covered under CCTV surveillance system," stated the affidavit.

The DGP further submitted that CCTV surveillance system is equipped with night vision and consists of audio as well as video footage. Arrangement of UPS with 10 hours backup has been made at each location.

"CCTV footage is recorded at each location (i.e., Police Stations/ CLA Staff pre mises/ Police Posts) in offline mode. There is a provision to view the video feed of any of the cameras online on demand by accessing the cameras through secured network through bandwidth provided by the Police Department," it added. It also states that since installation of CCTV cameras in April, 2023, 908 complaints were registered, 880 complaints have been resolved and remaining 28 complaints are being resolved (as on February 23) and the same are being attended to by the concerned quarters.

Perusing the affidavit which answered the queries of the High Court, it said that "no further orders are required and the petition is accordingly disposed off". 

Case Title: Sheelo v. The State of Punjab and others

Mr. Madan Sandhu, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. I.P.S. Sabharwal, DAG, Punjab.

Mr. P.S. Sekhon, Advocate, as Amicus Curiae.

Click here to read/download the order