Meghalaya High Court Seeks Report On Non-Functional CCTV Cameras In Police Stations, Impleads ED, CBI NIA, NCB & DRI

The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday (July 30) directed the State to file a comprehensive affidavit detailing the installation, functioning and maintenance of CCTV cameras in police stations across the State, after prima facie finding non-compliance with the Supreme Court's directions on CCTV surveillance in police stations.

The division bench comprising the Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh also directed the PIL-petitioner to implead the Union of India, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) as parties to the PIL.

The direction was made after the Court found “…Prima facie...there is non-compliance of the judgment of the Apex Court in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh & ors reported in (2021)..."

The Court was hearing a PIL on the implementation of CCTV surveillance in police stations.

Pursuant to its earlier order dated June 18, 2026, the Assistant Inspector General of Police filed an affidavit placing on record the status of CCTV cameras across police stations in the State.

The Court noted that the affidavit revealed a significant number of non-functional CCTV cameras. For instance, around 50 cameras were non-functional in Williamnagar, East Garo Hills, while about 129 cameras were non-functional in Shillong, East Khasi Hills.

The Court further noted that CCTV cameras at several police stations had become non-functional due to mechanical defects. It recorded that although Police Headquarters, Shillong had written to the concerned firm on March 9, 2026, requesting technicians to inspect and repair the malfunctioning cameras and submit estimates for restoration, "till date, it appears to be no course correction nor the issue addressed seriously, for reasons best known."

It also took note of the State's proposal under the "Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernization of Police (ASUMP)" scheme for the financial year 2026-27, seeking ₹25.24 crore for upgrading the CCTV surveillance system, installing additional cameras and establishing a Centralized Dashboard Monitoring System. However, since the proposal is still under consideration by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Court observed that it was unclear when it had been forwarded to the Central Government.

Observing that the affidavit did not present the complete picture regarding functional CCTV cameras, the Court directed the State to file a fresh affidavit, along with a chart specifying when CCTV cameras were installed in each police station, how many are functional and non-functional, since when they have remained non-functional, and the locations where they are not working.

The Court further directed the petitioner to implead the Union of India, CBI, NIA, ED, NCB and DRI as respondents, noting that the Supreme Court's directions on installation of CCTV cameras and recording equipment extend to these agencies as well, since they conduct interrogations and have the power to arrest.

It also directed the State to disclose the duration for which CCTV footage is preserved—which, in terms of the Supreme Court's directions, should not be less than six months—and furnish details of the annual maintenance contract for the CCTV systems.

Case Title: Kishan K. Nongkynrih v. State of Meghalaya & Ors.

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