Cuttack: The Orissa high court on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the state govt’s implementation of CCTV surveillance systems across police stations and their integration with the Central Monitoring System (CMS) at the state police headquarters in Cuttack.
The development came during a hearing of a suo motu PIL, initiated following an incident where an Army officer and his fiancée were allegedly manhandled at Bhubaneswar’s Bharatpur police station on September 15, 2024, which was not under CCTV surveillance.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho, reviewed the status report submitted by additional DGP Dayal Gangwar. According to the affidavit, 96% of CCTV cameras installed in 645 police stations are currently operational. The remaining 4%, damaged by Cyclone Dana, will be restored by November 2024.
The state govt has also approved CCTV installation in 295 police outposts, with the Odisha computer application centre tasked to complete the project by March 31, 2025.
“Relocation of cameras in 57 police stations and fresh installations in 52 new stations have been completed successfully,” Gangwar stated in the affidavit. He added that 85% of the police stations are now integrated with the CMS, with the remaining stations scheduled for connection by November 15.
The comprehensive surveillance network aims to enhance transparency and accountability in law enforcement operations across the state. The initiative follows Supreme Court guidelines mandating CCTV coverage in all police stations to prevent misconduct and ensure proper documentation of police activities.
The high court will continue monitoring the project’s progress to ensure complete implementation within the stipulated timeframe.