HC finds fault with counter affidavit

Madras High Court today found fault with the affidavit filed on behalf of the DGP in which it was mentioned that out of 251 police stations, CCTV cameras were installed in 170, and rest would be done in a phased manner.
"We are now informed that only 170 police stations out of 251 have been completed by installation of CCTV cameras, as per the demand of the police department for the year 2013-14. We are now in February 2015. This looks like a ten-year plan," the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M.M. Sundresh, said when the counter affidavit filed on a PIL came up.

The PIL had sought a direction to the government to install CCTVs in all police stations in Tamil Nadu enabling higher officials of the department to know about atrocities committed by their subordinate officials in police stations and violations of Human Rights.
The court further directed the DGP to file an affidavit setting out the schedule for completion of the task of installation of CCTVs in 251 police stations as also the schedule for the remaining stations.
The bench, while concurring with the submissions of the counsel for the petitioner that it is not clear in the counter whether such CCTV coverage would include complete premises of the police station, as often human rights violations takes place outside the police building in the compound, in its order directed DGP to file clarification in this matter also.

The bench, which posted the matter for further hearing to March 9, directed the DGP to file the compliance report at least three days before the next hearing date with an advance copy to the concerned parties.
In the counter, it was mentioned that a government order was issued on July 11, 2013 for installation of CCTVs in 251 police stations and a financial sanction of Rs.175.40 lakh was also accorded.
It also said government has decided to install CCTV cameras in all the 1567 police stations in the state in a phased manner.As per the above sanction,170 police stations including Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchirappalli and other cities are on the file. The counter said of the 11 police stations for which allotment was made in Greater Chennai, none has been installed.