Madras HC issues notice to TN govt on CCTV cameras in police stations

CHENNAI: Madras high court has issued a notice to the state government on a PIL seeking installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations in the state.
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, admitting the PIL of Vengai I Prakash Raj on Tuesday, asked the government to file its response within four weeks. They then adjourned the matter to December 16 for further hearing.
In his PIL, Prakash Raj asked as to why could police stations not install CCTV cameras while all banks, ATMs, internet cafes and even the government’s registration department were under CCTV watch.
He cited three incidents : January 8, in Neelankarai police station where a minor suffered bullet injuries under mysterious circumstances; August 10, when a female suspect was allegedly raped and tortured in custody by the Udumalpet police; and October 15, when a Muslim youth was shot dead by a sub-inspector in ‘self-defence’ inside a police station Ramanathapuram district.
He said such custodial excesses would come down, and police too would have proof to repudiate false allegations if they had CCTV footage of station works.