The Meghalaya High Court has instructed the state government to provide detailed information on the installation and operation of CCTV cameras in police stations, including the Laban Police Station in Shillong. This directive came during a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) focused on enhancing police accountability and transparency.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh issued the order in response to a PIL filed by Kishan K. Nongkynrih. The court mandated the state government to submit an affidavit within four weeks outlining the status of CCTV surveillance systems in police stations, encompassing the number and placement of cameras, coverage areas within the premises, and the duration of footage storage.
The affidavit is expected to include specific data on CCTV cameras at the Laban Police Station and other police facilities in Meghalaya, detailing their locations and the storage capacity for footage. Additional Advocate General K. Khan, representing the state government, requested more time to present the necessary information, which the bench granted, setting the deadline for the affidavit submission.
Furthermore, the court directed that a pre-submission of the affidavit be provided to the petitioner’s counsel for effective consideration during the next hearing. The bench also instructed the petitioner’s counsel to serve a copy of the PIL and the latest court order to the relevant respondent for legal representation at the upcoming hearing.
The PIL addresses concerns regarding police accountability and adherence to judicial directives on surveillance and monitoring mechanisms within police stations. The case is scheduled for further hearing on July 24.
