Lucknow: In a significant legal development with implications for police surveillance protocols and criminal justice safeguards, the Allahabad High Court (Lucknow Bench) has severely criticized a directive issued by Uttar Pradesh DGP that limits the retention of CCTV footage in police stations to just two to two-and-a-half months.
The High Court described the policy as “prima facie contempt” of existing Supreme Court mandates, which require much longer retention periods.
Background of UP DGP CCTV Storage Circular Contempt
In June 2025, the Office of the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, issued a circular instructing all police stations across the state to retain CCTV footage for a maximum period of 60 to 75 days.
The circular aimed to standardize practices but faced pushback from legal experts and civil liberties advocates who pointed out that it fell short of the Supreme Court’s previous directives on CCTV retention timelines.
Supreme Court’s Mandate on CCTV Retention: 6–18 Months
The Supreme Court of India has previously weighed in on the importance of retaining CCTV footage for effective investigation and transparency in policing.
According to the supreme court guidelines, CCTV footage used for law enforcement purposes should generally be stored for a period ranging between 6 months to 18 months, depending on the nature of the case and investigative requirements. These retention standards are designed to ensure that critical electronic evidence remains available during investigations and trials.
Allahabad High Court Directives on UP DGP CCTV Storage Circular Contempt
While hearing a challenge to the UP Police policy, a bench composed of Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Babita Rani expressed serious concerns about the legality of the two-month retention limit.
The Court described the circular as “extremely strange” and questioned how such a directive could be reconciled with Supreme Court jurisprudence that advocates for much longer CCTV storage.
The justices highlighted that limiting CCTV footage availability to just a few months could undermine criminal investigations, particularly in complex or delayed proceedings where critical footage may be required well after the 60-day period.
The Court’s remarks underscore the judiciary’s insistence on aligning police protocols with high court and Supreme Court standards of evidence preservation.
Importance of CCTV in Criminal Justice
CCTV cameras have become indispensable in modern policing, serving as critical tools for:
- Crime detection and investigation
- Public safety in urban areas
- Evidence preservation for judicial proceedings
- Accountability in police procedures
Shortening the retention period could limit the availability of electronic evidence, potentially jeopardizing fair trial standards and the broader interests of justice.
Legal practitioners often emphasize that retention timelines must reflect the time necessary to investigate a wide range of offenses — from minor offences to serious crimes with long investigative timelines.
