The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a petition alleging violation of Supreme Court-mandated CCTV safeguards in police stations, raising serious concerns over the legality of an arrest and custodial interrogation conducted without surveillance. A Division Bench led by Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Shail Jain has called for responses from the State and concerned authorities within three weeks, signalling judicial scrutiny over compliance failures that directly impact fundamental rights.
The case stems from a challenge to the petitioner’s arrest, which is claimed to have taken place in a police unit lacking functional CCTV cameras, despite binding Supreme Court directions requiring continuous recording in such facilities. The plea further alleges that authorities failed to inform the District Level Oversight Committee about the arrest and interrogation, as mandated.
Arguing that these lapses strike at the core of constitutional protections, the petitioner has sought a declaration that the custody itself was unlawful, along with an independent probe and enforcement of surveillance compliance across police establishments.
The Court has taken note of the allegations rooted in the Apex Court’s ruling in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh, which made CCTV monitoring in police premises a non-negotiable safeguard against custodial abuse. Emphasizing the gravity of the claims, the Bench issued notice and directed authorities to respond, effectively opening the door to examining whether the absence of CCTV coverage can invalidate custodial actions.
The matter is now slated for further hearing on April 30.
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