CCTV surveillance

Context: The Supreme Court has directed the installation of CCTVs with night vision cameras in each police station, besides the offices of central probe agencies such as the CBI, ED and NIA, to check police abuse.

Need of Surveillance:

• To check custodial deaths and torture According to data shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs with Parliament, 1,697 people died in custody during 2019-20 — 1,584 in jail and 113 in police custody.
  • This is mainly because of lack of training in modern interrogation techniques and the use of forensic science to gather evidence to prove the guilt of the accused.
• To ensure safety of good officers: Police officers abusing citizens erodes public confidence in law enforcement, making the job of good police officers unsafe.

Directions by the Supreme Court:

• CCTV footage/data should be preserved for at least six months, and the victim has a right to have the same secured in case of violation of his human rights.
• The government must implement it in letter and spirit as it concerns the right to life and liberty guaranteed under the Constitution.