Karnataka High Court Directs DGP To Submit Report On Power Backup In Police Stations After CCTV Failure When Woman Was Allegedly Tortured

Flagging the failure of electronic infrastructure in police station, the Karnataka High Court has recently directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to submit a state-wide report detailing the installation and functionality of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems at all police stations across the state.

The single judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order while hearing a plea by V. Shailaja, who sought CCTV footage from the Whitefield Police Station to validate the veracity of her complaint about the alleged illegal detention and torture that occurred on September 4, 2024.

During the hearing, Assistant Commissioner of Police Reena Suvarna appeared before the court through video conferencing and submitted that on the relevant date, there was a power fluctuation, and the CCTV cameras were not functioning. She further stated that the police station did not have a UPS system installed at that time, though it had subsequently been installed.

Justice Suraj Govindaraj expressed displeasure at this explanation, remarking that this was the fourth case before him where the same excuse had been cited for missing CCTV footage.

“…On enquiry as to whether there was an uninterrupted power system (UPS) implemented, she submitted that it was not implemented as on that date but it was subsequently installed. In that view of the matter, the DGP is directed to place on record the details of all police stations in state of Karnataka indicating as to whether they have UPS, if so whether it caters to the entire load of the said police station, when each of the UPS was installed and commissioned with specific reference to Whitefield police station which is subject matter of present writ petition…”, the court noted in the order.

According to the party in person, she was subjected to illegal detention, harassment, and physical torture at the Whitefield Police Station in 2024. Aggrieved by the experience, she filed an RTI application on September 7, 2024, seeking CCTV video footage of the police station for the relevant date and time in September.

The Public Information Officer (PIO) at the Whitefield Police Station denied the request, followed by a rejection from the Deputy Commissioner of Police in first appeal. In the second appeal, the Karnataka State Information Commission also upheld the previous orders, denying any CCTV footage of the day.

After exhausting the statutory remedies under RTI Act, the petitioner argued before the High Court that denial of the CCTV footage would 'shield the illegal and highhanded acts of police officials' and 'encourage them to continue their illegal acts with another general public'.

“…It is rather surprising that the date as regards which the complaint has been filed is the date on which recording has not happened…”, the court observed initially when the matter was taken up.

The judge questioned the ACP further: “…we will call for a report from all police stations when it was installed. There are serious allegations which have been made in this petition. We will get the report from concerned authority as to when UPS were installed…You don't have UPS in the police station? Have you personally verified it? Or you are going by some instructions given by somebody?”

When ACP Suvarna stated that she was relying on the technical team's response, the court directed the DGP to place on record detailed information regarding UPS installation at all police stations in the state, with the comprehensive report indicating the status of Whitefield Police Station.

“…The report insofar as that of Whitefield shall be placed on record within one week from today. The report with regard to other police stations can be placed on record subsequently”, the court noted in the order further.

“Whitefield next week… rest of them within 15 days…This should [no UPS] not be a reason quoted... this is the fourth matter we are dealing with in CCTV footage, and three of them have the same excuses…”, the court orally remarked before listing the matter on July 31.

Case Title: V Shailaja v. The Commissioner & Ors.

Case No: WP 3931/2026