The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday, instructed the Registrar of the High Court to expedite the installation of cameras strategically in every corner of the Registry, after an incident involving a practising advocate who allegedly tampered with court records and engaged in professional misconduct.

Expressing shock and dismay, the Court noted that despite issuing an order last month to install CCTV cameras in the registry, no significant progress had been made.

Justice Sandeep Bhatt observed, “This is very shocking that though this Court has passed earlier order on 8.11.2023 to do needful for the installation of CCTV cameras, from the report of the Registrar, it transpires that no further progress is made in this direction even after such incident has taken place. This situation cannot be tolerated and continued any further.”

"Therefore, let the Registrar General, with the help of Registrar (SCMS & ICT), Registrar (Vigilance) and Registrar (Judicial) do needful in the matter by also coordinating with the Additional Secretary to the Hon'ble the Chief Justice, who is in-charge of CCTV cameras to expedite the process of installation of cameras in each corner of the Registry strategically covering every table and in functional mode and also if required the cameras can be installed in the Court rooms also as stated by the Registrars."

The Court said that this exercise now should be expedited in view of the earlier decision taken in the chamber meeting of this Court as well as the order passed by the coordinate Bench, as stated earlier in the order and shall implement the same as expeditiously as possible, but not later than 15.1.2024.

The development comes in connection with the case alleging corruption by a lawyer appointed as a Court Commissioner in Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) proceedings.

The Court had previously expressed its shock and displeasure over tampering with its records in a case related to alleged corruption within the Debt Recovery Tribunal in Ahmedabad.

The high court's order highlighted that in 2016, the Chief Justice at that time had authorized the installation of Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs) in various judicial departments within the Registry. This decision aimed to monitor the movement of individuals entering and exiting storage areas, ultimately ensuring the safety of judicial proceedings.

On April 19, 2023, the Registrar received comprehensive documentation outlining the purchase, supply, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of IP based CCTV Camera Surveillance System for the purpose of security, monitoring and recording in the judicial departments including newly allotted departments functional from the old GP building as also at various locations where there is no reach of the existing CCTV camera surveillance system within the campus of the Gujarat High Court at Sola, Ahmedabad.

The Court asserted, "However, for reasons best known to the Registrar (SCMS & ICT), it transpires that no further development has taken place though the matter is having such urgency and seriousness that too inspite of the specific approval given by the Chief Justice for almost about eight months. This is very disturbing state of affairs on the side of the administration of the High Court.”

“Therefore, if such cameras would have been installed in the building, more particularly, in the civil board then the real culprit would have been immediately identified and could have been booked,” the Court further said.

The Court ordered, “Let the Registry do the needful from today onwards and expedite the procedure, otherwise this Court may have to observe regarding such lack luster approach which causes such harm in the administration of the Registry as well as for deciding such issue about the involvement of the such persons in playing mischief.

Appearance: Harsh V Gajjar(7828) For The Applicant(S) No. 1 For The Respondent(S) No. 2 Mr. Chintan Dave, App For The Respondent(S) No. 1

LL Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Guj) 175

Case Title: Dharmesh Jivanlal Gurjar Versus State Of Gujarat

Case No.: R/Special Criminal Application (Quashing) No. 996 Of 2020

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