Karnataka High Court Orders 24 Hour CCTV Monitoring In Police Stations
The Karnataka High Court has directed police authorities to keep CCTV cameras operational around the clock, stressing that station surveillance cannot be allowed to fail.
Karnataka High Court has ordered continuous CCTV operation.
Police stations must maintain working surveillance systems.
Senior police officials must monitor CCTV feeds.
Karnataka High Court On Police Station CCTV
The Karnataka High Court has issued a strong direction to police authorities across the state, making it clear that CCTV cameras installed in police stations must remain operational at all times.
The court said surveillance systems should not be switched off or remain nonfunctional for extended periods. It also stressed the need to follow the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court regarding CCTV coverage in police stations.
The direction came during proceedings connected to allegations involving the Whitefield police station.
Whitefield CCTV Failure Comes Under Scrutiny
The case involved a woman named Shailaja, who approached the court alleging harassment by personnel at the Whitefield police station.
During the proceedings, police authorities reportedly told the court that the CCTV system at the station had not been functioning for around 11 months because of a UPS related issue.
The explanation drew strong criticism from the High Court. The court observed that such a response could undermine public confidence in the police department and questioned how a basic surveillance system could remain unavailable for such a long period.
Court Calls For Real Time Monitoring
The High Court has directed authorities to ensure that CCTV systems across police stations remain functional and record activity continuously.
It has also called for a system through which the office of the Director General and Inspector General of Police can monitor CCTV operations across the state in real time.
The move is aimed at ensuring that technical problems are identified quickly rather than allowing cameras to remain inactive for months.
Supreme Court Guidelines Must Be Followed
The High Court stressed that existing Supreme Court directions on CCTV installation and maintenance in police stations must be implemented without exception.
Continuous surveillance is considered an important safeguard for both citizens and police personnel, particularly when allegations of harassment or misconduct arise inside police premises.
The latest order puts the responsibility on senior police authorities to ensure that technical failures do not leave stations without functioning CCTV coverage.
