Mohd Irfan
In what could be turned out to be glaring failure on the part of Concerned authorities who failed to comply with the mandatory directive of Supreme Court (SC) in regards to the installation of CCTVs in the Police stations across the country. The SC passed this order few years back given the massive increase in the atrocities in the police stations in the country.
The Top Court in order to put a check over the atrocities in the police stations felt the need to installed the CCTVs so that the working of police officials be come to fore. But it’s really intriguing and baffling aspect that the ruling government miserably failed to comply with the mandatory directive. The moot question that arises for consideration is that directions passed by the Apex court despite that the government has not installed the CCTVs as such the complaints pour in by the complainants that they are subjected to custodial torture etc.
Legal experts opined that it is really ridiculous on the part of government that they have complied with the directive, the government should take it seriously and install the CCTVs. Non-installation of the CCTVs creates fear Psychosis amongst the people, they feared while approaching the Police stations that the police officers under the guise of khaki would subject them to the brutal torture and also harassed them.
“There are several instances where in we observed that the victims complained of atrocities meted out to them at the hands of Police officials. As under the law also Police enjoyed the unbridled powers as such under the garb of such powers these police officials even beaten the accused to pulp for the several purposes as that of making confession from the accused persons etc”, said a law expert.
What stops the government in implementing the apex court directive rather, it raised eye brows over the functioning of the government that they give two hoots to the directive, however it should be implemented at the very outset. Now it has to be seen as what it led to that the government not installing the CCTVs whether they don’t regard the order of the SC or to the government it looks herculean task for them to install cameras in the Police stations or facing financial constraints? Few questions should be answered by the government so that it would come to know as to what the exact reason behind delay in installation of the CCTVs, the legal expert maintained.
Top official in the Police department asked not to be named first tight lipped as what convincing reply to be given over the non-installation of the CCTVs but then replied that exactly there is a dire need to comply with the directive, he said adding, after all the directive assumes significance for the public as they complained of brutalities being encountered by them at the hands of the Police officials.
“The CCTVs are beneficial for both to the Police as well to the public as the latter accuses that the former put them to brutal torture as such it would be imperative that sooner the CCTVs are installed better it would be”, the Police Officer said.
“Why the delay in installation of the CCTVs when you uttered that it would be beneficial for both public as well as Police officers this would promote transparency and accountability”, the officer said adding that first the reason behind the delay was the deadly pandemic corona which wreaked havoc across the whole world. When asked how much time would it take furthermore in installing the CCTVs, official failed to specify the time frame for the purpose.
It is pertinent to mention here that on many occasion Police have faced allegation of custodial torture, if the CCTVs are installed, such allegations would be avoided in future.
