SC Seeks Answers on Custodial Deaths; Orders States to Submit CCTV Status in 3 Weeks
SC pronounces orders in suo motu case on custodial deaths and non-functional CCTVs
In a significant move to address custodial deaths and police accountability, the Supreme Court on Friday pronounced its order in a suo motu case concerning the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across India.
The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta had, on September 4, taken suo motu cognizance of a news report highlighting that 11 persons died in police custody in Rajasthan over the past 7–8 months.
In its order, the Court 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 Court further requested Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave to continue assisting in the matter, which has been listed next for October 14.
Notably, on September 15, the Court had reserved its orders in a suo motu case concerning custodial deaths and the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across Rajasthan
Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, assisting the Court had submitted that while some states had complied with earlier directions on CCTV installation, others had failed to do so. “The Union has not complied, neither NIA, nor ED, nor CBI,” he pointed out, adding that custodial torture and abuse remain a serious concern beyond just deaths.Reserving its orders, the Court directed that the matter be listed next Monday (September 22) for pronouncement.
Notably, on September 4, 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.
The Dainik Bhaskar 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."
The development came nearly five years after the Supreme Court, in a landmark 2020 judgment delivered by Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman, KM Joseph and Aniruddha Bose, had made CCTV installation in all police stations across the country mandatory. In that verdict, the Court had also directed the Union government to install CCTV cameras in the offices of agencies such as the CBI, NIA, ED, NCB, DRI and SFIO, where interrogation of accused persons is carried out. The Bench had further mandated that all CCTV systems must be equipped with night vision and include both audio and video recording. The 2020 judgment had underlined that in the event of custodial violence or death, the victims or their families could approach Human Rights Courts to secure CCTV footage, ensuring accountability.
Despite these directions, compliance has remained patchy, with authorities frequently citing non-functional cameras or missing footage when called upon to produce records in cases of custodial violence.
Case Title: In Re: Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations
Pronouncement Date: September 26, 2025
Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta