Install CCTV Cameras In All Police Stations By March 31, Strictly Follow SOP On Dealing With Members Of Armed Forces: Orissa HC Tells Police

The Orissa High Court, while dealing with a suo moto PIL, has recently ordered the Government and the police authorities to install CCTV cameras in all police stations as well as police outposts across the State by the end of March, 2025. After perusing the status report submitted by a senior police officer, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho directed – “All the police stations and the police out-posts in the State of Odisha must be fully equipped with aptly placed and duly located CCTV cameras by 31.03.2025. Their integration with the Central Monitoring System (CMS) through Video Management System (VMS) must also be completed by the said date.”Background of the CaseThe matter pertains to illegal detention and alleged custodial torture meted out to an Army officer from 22 Sikh Regiment and to his female friend, a practising lawyer. The incident happened in between 02:00 AM to 07:00 AM on September 15, at Bharatpur police station in the capital city of Bhubaneswar.Reportedly, the couple had gone to the police station to lodge a complaint against some culprits involved in a road rage case which occurred while they were on their way back to home on the same night. However, instead of registering the complaint, the police personnel allegedly started misbehaving and assaulting both the persons.Later on, an FIR was lodged against them for commission of offences under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 296, 324(2), 118(1), 74, 132, 351(3) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After being denied bail by a lower Court, the lady was granted bail by the High Court on September 18.On September 17, a Single Bench of the Court had ordered treatment of the lady in the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. During the hearing of the bail petition, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya assured the Court of fair inquiry in the case. He had also informed that the erring officials have been suspended pending the inquiry.Subsequently, the Court took suo moto cognizance of the case after receiving a letter from Lieutenant General PS Shekhawat, General Officer Commanding & Colonel which urged the Chief Justice to take action.In the course of hearing of the suo moto case, the Court had prohibited print, electronic media and even social media from disclosing the name or identity of the army official or his lawyer friend. It also barred the media to hint at any mark of identification which could potentially reveal their identities.“We have intentionally not disclosed the names of the persons who visited the police station on 15th so as to protect their dignity. We have noticed that their names and identities have been disclosed in the print, electronic and social media. We consider it proper, in the facts and circumstances of the case, to restrain all concerned from publishing names/identities of the concerned two persons, who had visited the police station on 15.09.2024, in either print, electronic or social media in any manner.” the Bench had ordered.Pitambar Acharya, Advocate General had informed that three cases relating to and incidental to the matter had already been handed over to the Crime Branch for impartial investigation, which was being supervised by a senior IPS officer in the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP). He had also apprised the Court about the appointment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice (retd.) Chitta Ranjan Dash, pursuant to a high-level meeting held by the Government. Though the Government had requested the High Court to monitor the probe but the Court had turned down such request stating that power and duty of an investigating agency to investigate into a cognizable offence is statutory and unless there are exceptional circumstances, the Courts should not interfere. The Court, however, expressed resentment over non-installation of CCTV cameras in the police station for which the truth could not be uncovered, even though the entire incident unfolded within the four walls of the police station.The Bench had reminded the State of the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court mandating installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations across the country. Pertinently, the top Court in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh & Ors. (2020) had ordered States/Union Territories to ensure installation of CCTV cameras inside all the police stations.It had, thereafter, directed the Additional Director General (Modernization) to submit a report based on the information available at the headquarters as regards the availability of CCTV facilities in all the police stations of the State.Pursuant to the above order, Mr. Dayal Gangwar, ADG (Modernization) filed a report on 08.10.2024 wherein he mentioned that out of 593 police stations in the State, in 456 police stations CCTV cameras were not functional. He further informed that with his intervention, CCTV cameras in all the police Stations of the State, except 13 had become functional and rest of the 13 police...

Install CCTV Cameras In All Police Stations By March 31, Strictly Follow SOP On Dealing With Members Of Armed Forces: Orissa HC Tells Police

Jyoti Prakash Dutta

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