CCTV cameras in courts: SC pulls up Centre for callous approach

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Centre for adopting a “callous approach” on the issue of installation of CCTVs in courts and tribunals for recording judicial proceedings and sought a status report on the work done on it till now.

The apex court said it will first see the response of the pilot project of CCTV installations in trial courts and tribunals and then would look for the possibility in high courts and the Supreme Court.

“You should not adopt a callous approach towards this issue. This is a serious issue. You file the status report of CCTV installations in tribunals by next date of hearing,” a bench of Justices Adarsh Go el and U UL al it said.

Counsel appearing for the Centre said that they have not received a status report from the tribunals and sought some more time. The bench appointed senior advocate Sidharth Luthra as amicus curiae (friend of court) to assist in the matter. The court also refused to allow an individual petitioner to intervene in the matter.

The counsel, appearing for the individual petitioner, said that like trial courts and tribunals, the apex court should also pass orders for installation of CCTV cameras in high courts and the Supreme Court. "This is a pilot project in which we allowed CCTV installations in trial courts and tribunals. Let the response of this project come and then we will explore the possibility of installations of devices in high courts and the Supreme Court," the bench said.