The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued strong remarks against custodial violence, describing custodial death as a “blot on the system” and declaring that the country “will not tolerate this.” The observation came during the hearing of a suo motu case concerning the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across the country.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted that 11 custodial deaths were reported in Rajasthan in just eight months, prompting the bench to express sharp concern. “Now this country will not tolerate this. This is a blot on the system. You can’t have deaths in custody,” the court said.
The bench questioned why the Union government had not filed a compliance affidavit in the matter despite previous directions. “The Union is taking this court very lightly. Why?” Justice Nath asked.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta responded that no-one can justify custodial deaths and assured the court that the Centre would file its compliance affidavit within three weeks.
The court noted that although 11 states have filed compliance affidavits in the suo motu case, the remaining states and Union Territories — including the Union of India — have not yet done so.
Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, appearing as amicus curiae, informed the bench that in the separate 2020 case—where the Supreme Court had directed the installation of CCTV cameras and recording equipment in the offices of investigating agencies like the CBI, ED and NIA—many states had still not filed compliance affidavits. He also pointed out that budgetary allocations for CCTV installation were missing for three central agencies.
The bench appreciated Madhya Pradesh for being fully compliant, noting that every police station and outpost in the state is connected to a centralised workstation at the district control room. “That is something remarkable,” the bench observed.
The court granted three more weeks to all remaining states and UTs to file compliance affidavits and listed the matter for December 16. It warned that failure to file by that date would require personal appearance of the principal secretary (Home) of the defaulting state or UT, along with an explanation.
If the central investigating agencies do not file compliance affidavits, the court said their respective directors may have to appear in person.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Mehta said complying with the CCTV order was mandatory but added that installing cameras inside police stations could sometimes be counterproductive to investigations. The bench responded that other countries have far higher transparency norms, remarking that “in America, they have live streaming of the footage.”
The court also discussed the concept of open air prisons, calling it one of the best solutions to issues like overcrowding and complaints of violence, while also reducing financial burden.
The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance in September after media reports revealed 11 custodial deaths in Rajasthan in the first eight months of 2025, seven of them in the Udaipur division.
Earlier, in December 2020, the apex court had directed states and UTs to ensure CCTV coverage at every police station — including all entry and exit points, lock-ups, corridors, receptions and adjoining areas — leaving no part uncovered.
