In a decisive move to bolster transparency and accountability within police stations, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued a directive that requires complete CCTV coverage in every room of all police stations across the state. Justice G.S. Ahluwalia, presiding over the matter, stressed that any failure to comply with this mandate would be treated as Contempt of Court.
The ruling emerged from a case involving allegations of police misconduct, where the petitioner, represented by Advocate Abhishek Pandey, claimed to have been unlawfully detained and assaulted at the Bhalumada Police Station in Anuppur district. The incident, which allegedly took place in a room without CCTV surveillance, prompted the court’s stringent response.
Justice Ahluwalia’s order specified that lapses in CCTV coverage would lead to contempt actions against both the Superintendent of Police of the respective district and the Station House Officer of the concerned police station. This directive aims to eliminate “black spots” or areas within police stations that escape video surveillance.
The court’s decision mandates that the Director General of Police (DGP) ensure the installation of CCTV cameras with audio recording capabilities in every police station room. The DGP is also required to compile and submit a report within three months on the status of CCTV installation, identifying any remaining black spots.
This directive follows a backdrop of disturbing allegations, including police brutality and corruption linked to the petitioner’s refusal to bribe a police officer. The High Court criticized the DGP for not adhering to prior directives that mandated comprehensive CCTV coverage, referencing the Supreme Court’s guidelines established in the Paramvir Singh case.
To enforce this order, the High Court has set a deadline of February 18, 2025, for the DGP to submit a compliance report to the Registrar General of the High Court. Failure to meet this deadline will trigger the initiation of a separate contempt case by the Registrar General.
