Five years on, SC re-examines CCTV order for police stations , Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court is re-examining its 2020 order mandating CCTV cameras in police stations.
• This decision follows reports of custodial deaths, with approximately 11 deaths in the past 7-8 months.
• The 2020 judgment aimed to deter custodial torture through mandatory CCTV installation.

Detailed Insights:

• The 2020 directive instructed the Central government to ensure CCTV cameras with recording capabilities were installed in police stations.
• The current re-examination was initiated suo motu by a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, prompted by a media report.
• The original order intended the CCTV cameras to act as a deterrent against instances of police brutality and ensure greater accountability.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Suo Motu: An action taken by a court on its own accord, without a request from either party.
• Custodial Death: Death of a person while in the custody of the police or judicial authorities.
• Accountability: The obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and disclose the results in a transparent manner.