1941 CCTV Cameras Installed In 197 Police Stations, Footage Can Be Retained Only For One Month: Delhi Police To High Court

The Delhi Police has informed the High Court that 1941 CCTV cameras have been installed in 197 police stations in the national capital and that every police station has a storage facility of 48 terabytes which can retain the footage for a period of one month.

The police has further the informed court that out of the 1941 CCTV cameras, 30 are not operational.

It has also been stated that the Delhi Police is working towards upgradation of the existing cameras, adding that 2175 additional cameras will be installed.

The information was given in a status report filed before court in a plea seeking direction to the Delhi Police and Delhi Government to ensure that CCTV cameras installed in police stations are functional with audio recording facility.

As per the status report, it has been stated that the  Special Committee has recommended that a Voice Tag (microphone with power supply) can be attached with the existing 1941 cameras installed in the police stations. 

The report adds that the Committee also mentioned that there is a need of additional 2175 cameras to be installed which will include audio and video recording as mandated by the Supreme Court in Paramveer Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh.

In the said case, the Apex Court had directed that CCTV cameras must be installed with a storage period of 18 months.

“It is stated that as on date, each police station has 48 Terabytes of storage facility which can retain CCTV footage for 1 month. It is stated that pursuant to the directions passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, the Delhi Police Department, has decided to shift to NAS (Network Attached Storage), which would include CCTV footage for a period of 18 months,” the status report reads.

Stating that its endeavour is to ensure that all the CCTV cameras installed are in working condition, the police has stated that as and when any camera breaks down, a complaint is lodged with the vendor having annual maintenance contract and corrective action are taken as per the service level agreement.

It further states that the only situation where delays happen is when spare parts are not readily available and sourcing takes some time.

While the police had given similar data in its previous status report, the latest status report adds that the Ministry of Home Affairs on November 18, 2022 has accorded its approval for inviting fresh E-bid after certain modification in the previous E-bid.

“As the prospective bidders had raised certain queries, the date of opening of instant tender has been extended upto 25.01.2023,” the police has said.

Justice Prathiba M Singh, who heard the matter today, noted that as per the status report, E-bids are being repeatedly called and the last date for the latest bid is January 25.

“Copies of all the tenders along with the list of bidders who would be submitting the bids and the finalization thereof shall also be filed by way of an additional status report before the next date of hearing,” the court ordered while listing the matter for hearing on March 1.

The petition has been filed by one Chandril Dabas through Advocate Manan Agarwal.

Title: CHANDRIL DABAS v. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE DELHI & ORS.