Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has ordered the Odisha government to equip all police stations and outposts with CCTV cameras by March 31, 2025.
This directive, issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho, came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) regarding the alleged custodial abuse of a serving Army officer and his fiancée in Bhubaneswar.
The court emphasized that the CCTV systems must be integrated with the Central Monitoring System (CMS) through a Video Management System (VMS) to enhance transparency and accountability in policing.
Additionally, the bench highlighted the importance of strictly adhering to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) established by the Odisha government for interactions with members of the armed forces in police stations. It directed that all police officers be made aware of these procedures and instructed the state to circulate the SOP in Odia across all police stations and outposts.
According to an affidavit submitted by Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Dayal Gangwar, 96% of the state’s 645 police stations have already been integrated with the CMS at the State Police Headquarters in Cuttack.
The court’s directives underscore the need for greater accountability and modernization in the state’s policing framework, aiming to protect citizens’ rights and prevent incidents of custodial misconduct.
