The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Union Government to ensure that funds already available under the Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of Police (ASUMP) scheme are utilised to address shortfalls in CCTV infrastructure in police stations, instead of allowing the funds to remain unused while the Centre works on a new police modernisation scheme.

A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta was hearing the suo motu case concerning the lack of functional CCTV cameras in police stations across the country.

The issue of funding was raised by Amicus Curiae Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave with reference to the affidavit filed by the Union of India on August 31, 2026.

During the hearing, Dave pointed out that the Union's affidavit stated that the ASUMP scheme would continue only till March 31, 2027, while the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had commenced the process of seeking administrative and financial approval for a new comprehensive umbrella scheme called the Police Modernisation Mission (PMM).

He submitted that there should be continuity between the existing ASUMP scheme and the proposed PMM so that funding for CCTV infrastructure does not stop when the existing scheme ends.

As per the Union's affidavit, the umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) had been extended by one year beyond FY 2025-26, up to March 31, 2027. Therefore, the sub-scheme ASUMP would continue to operate under the MPF umbrella during FY 2026-27 to discharge committed liabilities and enable financial assistance to States and Union Territories.

As per the concept note, PMM would be an umbrella scheme aimed at funding, modernising, integrating and future-proofing the internal security capabilities of State Governments and police forces, Central Armed Police Forces and Central Government security and intelligence agencies through targeted investments, reforms and technology-led transformation. The proposed outlay of PMM is ₹24,000 crore for five years.

In the affidavit, the Union has specifically stated that the new scheme includes CCTV cameras. It states that while the proposal is still at an initial stage and it is therefore not feasible to provide component-specific details at present, the scheme would have adequate provisions for CCTV cameras in police stations, since CCTV is an integral part of police station strengthening.

Justice Mehta asked whether the funds under the existing scheme could be re-approved so that they could be utilised for the requirements identified by the States. He said that if there was any difficulty in this regard, the Court could give the Centre a “push” at the next hearing.

“If you have any hitch in working, we will give you a push on the next day. You come out with a simple affidavit that the funds whichever they are that is exactly falling short, you utilise those funds from the balance funds in the ASUMP. Otherwise, the scheme is coming to an end. Your funds will go elsewhere”, he said to the Centre's counsel.

Additional Solicitor General Raja Thakare for the Union said that it is not feasible to provide component-specific details at this stage. However, the Centre has stated that the new scheme would have adequate provisions for CCTV cameras in police stations.

Justice Mehta then pointed out that funds were already available under the existing ASUMP scheme. He questioned why the funds should be allowed to remain unused when they could instead be utilised for modernising the existing CCTV system.

“For the present, you are already having funds in the ASUMP scheme. Why do you allow them to go dormant? Let them be used for modernising the existing system. We have to wait till your new scheme comes into force,” the Court said.

The ASG highlighted that the ASUMP scheme had already been extended till March 31, 2027.

Justice Mehta said that until then, the Centre could make up the shortcomings in the existing system. The Court directed the ASG to obtain further instructions in the matter within two weeks and listed the case thereafter.

During the hearing, Dave also highlighted that State of Jharkhand had submitted a proposal which had been rejected and the State had not started work on the CCTV system.

The Union's affidavit states that Jharkhand had submitted a proposal dated July 22, 2026 for approximately ₹112.50 crore, comprising the Central and State shares, for a “Centralized Dashboard/Monitoring system for CCTV cameras for all Police Stations”. The proposal was examined by the Centre but was found not to be in accordance with BPR&D standards. The State was asked to furnish the requisite information and complete the appraisal in accordance with the ASUMP scheme.

The affidavit further states that after receipt of a revised proposal from Jharkhand as per BPR&D norms, a meeting would be planned with the State to consider its proposal in a timely manner.

Thakare told the Court that Jharkhand had not furnished the particular details sought by the Centre on August 3.

Justice Nath asked the ASG to specifically indicate the position regarding Jharkhand and the objections raised by the Amicus in relation to the State. The Court said that the matter could be addressed when the ASG returned with further instructions.

Dave then told the Court that Jharkhand had not had “one CCTV since 2020”, highlighting the continuing concern regarding the State's CCTV infrastructure.

The issue of funding for implementing and maintaining CCTV infrastructure has been raised repeatedly during the previous hearings. In July, Dave had told the Court that substantial work had been done but States and Union Territories faced a shortage of funds for CCTV-related requirements. He had sought extension of the ASUMP scheme till December 2027, and a direction to the Home Ministry to liberally consider proposals by States and UTs seeking additional funds. He had also pointed out that the funds available under the ASUMP scheme for FY 2026-27 were limited.

During that hearing, Justice Sandeep Mehta had said that there were two issues to be considered – extension of the scheme and maintenance of the CCTV systems, since if maintenance was not provided, the cameras would become defunct.

The Union has now filed an affidavit setting out the status of CCTV proposals and funding under ASUMP, as well as the proposed new scheme. The affidavit states that as of August 1, 2026, ₹450 crore was available for all States and UTs under ASUMP, against which utilisation stood at ₹225 crore. It states that funds are released through the Single Nodal Agency-SPARSH portal based on actual expenditure and after procurement is completed and bills are available.

The affidavit also states that the total CCTV-related proposals submitted by States and UTs under ASUMP amounted to ₹1,453.85 crore. Of this, ₹484.03 crore had been approved, ₹155.57 crore was under consideration and ₹814.25 crore was not considered, restricted, deferred or otherwise not approved.

The affidavit attributes ₹512.75 crore worth of proposals not being considered to issues including poor performance against previous approvals, absence of a roadmap to complete the projects and non-compliance with BPR&D requirements. It also states that there were ₹301.5 crore savings arising from sanctions made according to BPR&D norms and exclusion of components such as recurring charges that are not admissible under the scheme.

The affidavit also gives the status of individual State proposals. Assam's ₹9.18 crore CCTV proposal has been approved, while a revised proposal from Nagaland in accordance with BPR&D norms is awaited. Jharkhand's proposal for approximately ₹112.50 crore for a centralised dashboard and monitoring system for CCTV cameras in all police stations was found not to conform to BPR&D standards.

The State-wise details show that Karnataka's ₹278 crore proposal was reduced to ₹173 crore because recurring costs and network connectivity charges were ineligible. Nagaland's ₹85.35 crore proposal was deferred because its project cost was too high and its proposed centralised architecture violated guidelines.

The affidavit also states that several States either did not proposed police station CCTV projects under their approved action plans or had proposals still under consideration. Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Odisha had no police station CCTV proposal under ASUMP, while proposals from Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana and Uttarakhand are under consideration.

Case no. – SMW(C) No. 7/2025

Case Title – In Re: Lack of Functional CCTVs in Police Stations