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The Punjab & Haryana High Court explicitly stated recently that CCTVs should be installed in every part of police stations in line with the Apex Court's directions in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh and Others (2021).

The bench of Justice Justice Amol Rattan Singh elucidated that no part of the police stations should be left uncovered by CCTV surveillance, not even the interrogation rooms.

To make the observations effective, court sought responses from the Director-Generals of Police (DGPs) of Haryana & Punjab, and also from the DGP of Union Territory of Chandigarh regarding compliance of Supreme Court's order.

The court was hearing a plea filed by an alleged gangster Kaushal, accused in the gruesome murder of Youth Akal Dal leader Vikramjit Middukhera. Kaushal had sought court's direction to the State authorities praying that when he is to be taken outside jail, be it for interrogation or on remand, his entry and exit from the jail should be videographed. 

He had alleged that he had been tortured at the hands of police officials. That's why he had come to the court seeking aide. He had also demanded that appropriate measures be taken for the videography of his police interrogation.

During earlier hearing of the case, the high court has asked the DGPs of Punjab and Haryana last month as to why the court should not, in appropriate cases, direct that interrogation of the accused be conducted under videography so as to eradicate chances of the accused being tortured by the police.

In response to this, the DGP (Haryana), in his report, had stated that there is no such provision in the Cr.P.C. for conducting investigation under the surveillance of CCTV cameras. Though he had confirmed CCTV cameras have been installed in all entry and exit gates of prisons and all police stations as per courts' guidelines. 

To this, court observed that "as per Article 142 of the Constitution of India, the Supreme Court, in the exercise of its jurisdiction, may pass such decree or order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it, and any order or decree so passed would be enforceable throughout the territory of India. Further, the law declared by the Supreme Court would be binding on all courts as per Article 141."

Court, therefore, said that as per the SC's directions, interrogation rooms too are to be covered under CCTV surveillance. Court stated, 

"Cameras be installed at not just entry and exit points and main gates of police stations, but also in all lock-ups, corridors, lobby and reception areas, verandas, out houses, rooms of officials, outside the lock-up rooms, station hall and in front of the police station compound, as also outside washrooms and toilets, the obvious implication is that no part of the police stations would be left uncovered by CCTV surveillance."

In conclusion, court made it clear that non-compliance of Supreme Court's directions in Paramvir Singh Sainis' case, would amount to contempt of the Court and sought DGPs' replies. 

Case Title: Kaushal v. State of Haryana and others