Non-Functional CCTV Cameras, Electricity Backup Facilities In Police Stations Reflect Dereliction Of Duty By SPs: Allahabad High Court
The Allahabad High Court recently observed that non-functional CCTV cameras and backup power facilities, such as generator sets and solar panels, in police stations amount to "dereliction in discharge of duties" by the Superintendent of Police.
The bench added that it is the primary duty of the SP, or Senior Superintendent of Police, to ensure that police stations remain fully equipped with these essential facilities.
Observing that a police station is a "sensitive place", a Bench of Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad further directed the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, to issue necessary instructions to all SPs, SSPs and Commissioners of Police to ensure that police stations across all districts of the State remain “well equipped with all facilities” provided to ensure discipline and proper functioning.
The Court passed the directions while hearing a writ petition alleging that the petitioner had been illegally detained in the lock-up of Police Station Bhaluani, Deoria.
During earlier hearings, the Station House Officer informed the Court that the CCTV footage for the relevant date could not be verified because there was no electricity supply and the police station's generator set was not functional.
Taking serious note of the explanation, the Court directed the preservation of the CCTV hard disk and sought details of the electricity supply from the power corporation. The Court had also called for the personal affidavit of the SP, Deoria, explaining why the generator set had not been repaired.
When the matter was taken up on July 28, the Executive Engineer informed the Court that although the scheduled electricity supply in the village was for 18 hours on the relevant date, the actual supply was available for only 13 hours and 4 minutes.
The Court also found that the Station House Officer was unable to satisfactorily explain the status of the CCTV footage stored on the hard disk, and directed that the footage be extracted and produced before it on a pen drive.
The Bench then recorded its 'displeasure' over the non-maintenance of the generator set and solar panels installed at the police station to provide backup during electricity rostering in rural areas.
It noted from the affidavit filed by the Superintendent of Police, Deoria, that the generator set had remained non-functional since December 2024 and the solar panels were also not working.
Despite this, the bench noted that no communication had been made by the police station either for the maintenance of the solar panels or for the repair of the generator set.
Questioning the SHO's conduct, the Court noted that although he had been posted at the police station since 31 August 2025, he could not explain why he had neither communicated the defects nor made any effort to have the generator repaired or the solar panels maintained.
The officer, however, assured the Court that the generator set would be repaired within 3-4 days.
Stressing the importance of uninterrupted electricity supply in police stations, particularly in rural areas where power rostering is common, the Court observed thus:
"It was primary duty of the Superintendent of Police or Senior Superintendent of Police to ensure that these generator sets provided to the different police stations are in working order and CCTV cameras also given electricity supply through back up means like generator set as well as solar panel. If the CCTV cameras are not working in different police stations and electricity back up means like gen-sets and solar panels are not working then it is a dereliction in discharge of duties by Superintendent of Police".
The bench added that the SHO was equally liable in the present case for failing to get the gen-set repaired and the solar panel maintained.
During the hearing, the Additional Chief Standing Counsel also produced a letter issued by the Superintendent of Police, Deoria, treating the conduct of the Station House Officer as "serious dereliction in discharge of duties and in discipline" and directing a preliminary inquiry.
Recording the submission, the Court expressed the expectation that the Superintendent of Police would take "decisive action" in the matter with immediate effect.
The Court has now directed the Superintendent of Police, Deoria to remain personally present on the next date of hearing (August 11) and apprise it about the status of generator sets, solar panels and CCTV cameras in police stations across the district.
The Station House Officer has also been directed to remain present.
Case - Nagendra Kumar Yaqdav vs. State Of U.P. And 3 Others 2026 LiveLaw (AB) 511
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (AB) 511