This story is from February 18, 2019

Bombay high court seeks status of CCTV cameras at police stations

Bombay high court seeks status of CCTV cameras at police stations
Bombay high court (File photo)
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has asked the state government to spell out the progress in implementing its orders to install CCTV cameras at all police stations to prevent custodial deaths. A division bench of Justice Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Justice Anuja Prabhudessai asked the secretary of the home department to file an affidavit before the next hearing on February 25.

1

The court was hearing a petition on the death of Agnello Valdaris (25) in railway police custody in 2014 filed by his father Leo. The petitioner’s lawyers said there was little progress in installing CCTVs.
“This court can always pass appropriate orders and also protect the accused being taken to police station. However, before passing any orders, we direct the secretary to place on record appropriate affidavit explaining the progress made and steps taken for compliance...,” the bench said.
The court’s observations come against the backdrop of the state reporting the highest number of deaths of accused in police custody in the last three years.
In August 2014, the high court had directed that rotating CCTV cameras be installed at all police stations in the state. The cameras were to be installed such that corridors and lock-ups are covered 24x7.
In 2016, the state said it would install CCTV cameras at 25 police stations in Mumbai as a pilot project. The high court however found that even this pilot project was not fully implemented..
Additional public prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh told the court that the current budgetary year was coming to an end and the new budget provisions are being made for CCTV cameras.
The court also directed the state to explain its stand about adding murder charges against police officers booked for the custodial death. Agnello and three others, including a 15-year-old, were picked up by on the night of April 15, 2014 for allegedly stealing a gold chain worth Rs 60,000. The complaint alleged that the four, including the minor, were made to perform sexual acts on each other. They were sexually assaulted and tortured while in custody. Agnello died on April 18. Police claimed he was run over by a train while trying to escape. The CBI booked eights railway police officers for offences including causing hurt.
author
About the Author
Shibu Thomas

Shibu Thomas is a special correspondent at The Times of India in Mumbai. He writes on legal issues in the Bombay high Court and other courts in the city. He has written on PILs filed by citizens, human rights violations and prisoners caught in the legal system. He has travelled across two continents and plans to cover the remaining five.

End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA