CCTV Cameras In Police Stations: Supreme Court Orders May 6 Meeting On Fund Utilisation
Supreme Court directs Centre and states to review utilisation of funds for CCTV installation in police stations across India
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that a meeting be convened on May 6 to examine the utilisation of funds allocated for installation of CCTV cameras in police stations across the country.
The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, assisting the Court as amicus curiae in the suo motu case concerning non-functional CCTVs in police stations, to convene the meeting with representatives of the Centre, all States and Union Territories.
“We are of the view that a meeting be convened by the amicus, as done earlier, in which the home secretary of the central government or his nominee not below the rank of joint or additional secretary and the home secretary of states/Union Territories will participate,” the Bench observed.
The direction came after the amicus flagged concerns regarding the utilisation of funds by States. Dave informed the Court that funding patterns vary; 100% central funding for Union Territories, 90% for hilly States, and a 60:40 Centre-State split for others.
Questioning the delays, the Bench remarked, “Why don't we get responses of the states only on utilisation of funds?”
The matter has been listed for further hearing on May 13, with the Court directing that a report be submitted following the May 6 meeting.
Earlier, on April 7, the Centre had assured the Court that all issues concerning installation of CCTVs would be resolved within two weeks. The assurance was given by Attorney General R. Venkataramani, who stated that the government was actively reviewing the situation.
The proceedings arise from a suo motu case initiated by the top court over the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations, following a media report.
The Court had also laid down detailed requirements, directing that CCTV systems cover all critical areas including entry and exit points, lock-ups, corridors and reception areas, and be equipped with night vision, audio-video recording, and storage capacity of at least one year.
Notably, in November 2025, the Bench had granted three weeks' time to the Union government and the states for filing compliance affidavit in the suo motu case initiated by the court on the issue of CCTVs in police stations.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had raised serious concerns over the lack of CCTV cameras in the interrogation rooms of police stations across Rajasthan, emphasizing the human rights implications of such a gap.
Previously, on September 26, the Court had directed that specific information on 12 key points be provided by all States and Union Territories within three weeks. The details required include status of CCTV installation, functionality, storage of footage, and monitoring mechanisms.
The Apex Court had initiated a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across the country, following media reports of 11 custodial deaths in 2025. The Bench had taken note of a report published in Dainik Bhaskar highlighting the alarming rise in custodial deaths over the past seven to eight months.
“Based on Dainik Bhaskar, we are directing a suo motu PIL titled Lack of functional CCTVs in police stations, as 11 custodial deaths were reported in 2025 over the past 7–8 months,” Justice Nath had observed. The Court’s intervention marked a significant step towards enforcing compliance with its earlier directions mandating CCTV installation in all police stations to ensure transparency and accountability. The report stated, "There have been 11 deaths in police custody in the state within 8 months of 2025. 7 deaths have occurred in Udaipur division. In August, two bullion traders died in Kankroli police station of Rajsamand district and Rishabhdev police station of Udaipur district. Information was sought under RTI in all the cases."
Case Title: In Re: Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Hearing Date: April 28, 2026