Mumbai: In a significant order aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in policing, the Bombay High Court has directed the Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra, to submit a comprehensive report on the status of CCTV surveillance across all police stations in the state.
The court has sought details on whether CCTV cameras installed at every police station are fully operational and the duration for which surveillance footage is preserved before being deleted or overwritten. The matter will next be heard on August 10.
High Court Seeks Statewide CCTV Audit
The direction was issued on Wednesday (July 15) by a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad.
The bench instructed the Maharashtra DGP to undertake a comprehensive audit and submit a report covering two key aspects:
- Whether all police stations in Maharashtra have fully functional CCTV camera systems.
- The period for which CCTV footage is preserved by individual police stations before being deleted or overwritten.
The report is expected to provide the court with a statewide picture of CCTV compliance and surveillance infrastructure within the police force.
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Petition Triggered the Court’s Order
The court’s direction came while hearing a petition filed by Prashant Satyawan Kokane, who appeared before the court in person.
Kokane alleged that officials at Mumbai’s Ghatkopar Police Station had been illegally pressuring and threatening him under political influence to withdraw a complaint related to a bogus ration card.
To support his allegations, he sought access to CCTV footage from the police station, claiming it would establish the alleged intimidation by police personnel.
Police Cited Footage Retention Policy
According to submissions before the court, the Senior Police Inspector of the Ghatkopar Police Station declined to provide the requested CCTV footage.
The police maintained that CCTV recordings are routinely deleted or overwritten after a preservation period of six months, making the footage unavailable.
The claim prompted the High Court to seek clarity on the actual preservation practices followed across police stations in Maharashtra and whether there is uniform compliance with CCTV maintenance and data retention norms.
Focus on Accountability and Transparency
The High Court’s order places renewed emphasis on the role of CCTV surveillance in ensuring police accountability and protecting citizens’ rights.
By seeking a statewide audit, the court aims to ascertain not only the availability of functional surveillance systems but also whether police stations are preserving video records for adequate periods, particularly in cases where such evidence may become crucial during investigations or judicial proceedings.
The findings submitted by the DGP could have wider implications for policing standards, evidence preservation practices, and compliance with judicial guidelines relating to CCTV installation in police stations.
Next Hearing on August 10
The Bombay High Court has listed the matter for August 10, when it will examine the report submitted by the Maharashtra DGP and consider the state’s response regarding CCTV functionality and footage preservation across police stations.
