Archive · 25 Nov 2025
SC Reprimands Centre, States Over Non-Compliance With CCTV Mandate
The Supreme Court scolded the central government and several state governments for not following its orders to install and maintain CCTV cameras in all police stations.
The court was upset because many states had not done what was asked, and some, like Rajasthan, had seen deaths in police custody.
Madhya Pradesh was praised for doing well.
The court gave the states and agencies a final three weeks to submit their reports or face consequences.
The cameras are meant to make police stations more transparent and prevent mistreatment of people in custody.
Supreme Court reprimanded the Centre and states for not complying with CCTV installation directives in police stations.
Only 11 states/UTs filed compliance affidavits; the rest were given a final 3-week deadline.
Madhya Pradesh was highlighted as a model state for linking all police stations to a central surveillance room.
The court threatened personal appearances of Chief Secretaries and agency heads for non-compliance.
CCTV footage must be preserved for at least 18 months, and SHOs are responsible for maintenance.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Centre, State Governments
- What
- Non-compliance with CCTV installation and maintenance in police stations
- When
- Hearing on November 25, 2025; Compliance deadline by December 16, 2025
- Where
- Supreme Court, New Delhi
- Why
- To maintain transparency and curb custodial torture
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Bench
- Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
- Case
- In Re: Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations
- Compliance Deadline
- December 16, 2025
- Model State
- Madhya Pradesh
- Custody Deaths
- 11 in Rajasthan (2025)
- Footage Preservation
- 18 months
- Responsible Officers
- Station House Officers (SHOs)
