The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Delhi Police to strictly comply with the Supreme Court order passed in the Paramveer Singh Saini vs Baljit Singh regarding installation of CCTV cameras in police stations across the city.
The Apex Court had directed in Paramveer Singh Saini case that CCTV cameras must be installed with a storage period of 18 months.
The High Court, while dismissing the plea that sought direction to the Delhi Police and the Delhi government to ensure that CCTV cameras installed in police stations were functional and having audio recording facility, noted that since the Supreme Court was monitoring the issue, no further orders were required to be passed.
The Bench, however, said the petitioner was free to avail remedies in law, if any, in future in accordance with law.
The Delhi Police had filed a status report on February 27 before the High Court, stating that on February 23, a fresh tender was opened and 12 firms submitted their bids. It added that the tender was now at evaluation stage.
The Bench observed that evaluation of the bids should be done soon, so that the successful bidders work expeditiously to ensure compliance of the Apex Court directions.
The Counsel appearing for Delhi Police submitted that the Supreme Court on February 21 in a matter raising a similar issue directed all state governments to file a status report on compliance of directions.
He apprised the High Court that it was working expeditiously to conclude the tender process for installing CCTV cameras in police stations in the national capital.
In January, the court was informed that out of 1941 CCTV cameras, 30 were not operational and that Delhi Police was working towards upgradation of the existing cameras. It was also said that 2175 additional cameras would be installed in police stations.
The High Court was further apprised that the Ministry of Home Affairs had accorded its approval for inviting fresh E-bid on November 18, 2022, after certain modification in the previous E-bid for installation of CCTV cameras.
The court was earlier informed by the police that the Special Committee had recommended that a Voice Tag (microphone with power supply) can be attached with the existing 1941 cameras installed in police stations.
It was also stated that the Committee mentioned that there was a need of additional 2175 cameras to be installed, which would include audio and video recording as mandated by the Supreme Court. The petition was filed by one Chandril Dabas through Advocate Manan Agarwal.
(Case title: Chandril Dabas vs The Commissioner of Police Delhi & Ors)