SC schools Centre for not installing CCTV cameras in police stations, other agencies
Gives three-month deadline to comply
New Delhi: The Indian Supreme Court has issued a three-month deadline for the Centre to comply with its December 2020 judgement regarding the installation of CCTV cameras in the offices of its investigative agencies. The court mandated the installation of the cameras for the sake of transparency and protection of human rights of accused and undertrials. The deadline expires on July 18.
The recent court order, led by a bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai, expressed disappointment that several agencies had not taken any steps to comply with the court order. The court noted that out of the seven investigating agencies, only three have complied with the directive.
In December 2020, a three-judge Bench led by Justice Rohinton Nariman had specifically directed the Centre to install CCTV cameras and recording equipment in the offices of the Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, Department of Revenue Intelligence, Serious Fraud Investigation Office, and “any other agency which carries out interrogations and has the power of arrest.”
The court observed that only four investigative agencies have taken sincere steps towards compliance with the order.
The court also noted that only four states and Union Territories have fully complied with the order by making budgetary allocations and installing the CCTV cameras. These states and Union Territories are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Mizoram, and Goa.
The court ordered the Chief Secretary or Administrator of any State Government or Union Territory that failed to comply with the court direction and failed to file the required affidavit before July 18 to appear personally in court and show cause as to why an action for committing contempt should not be taken against them. The court underscored that this is not an adversarial litigation and that compliance with the court's order is necessary to maintain transparency and protect the human rights of accused and undertrials.
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BJP takes out torch rally in Ranchi over women's quota bill
Ranchi (PTI): Jharkhand BJP on Tuesday took out a torch rally in Ranchi against the Congress-led opposition alliance for allegedly obstructing the implementation of the women's reservation bill in the Lok Sabha.
Led by the BJP women's wing, the 'Mahila Aakrosh Mashal Yatra' was taken out from Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk.
Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu, who also took part in the procession, said, "By opposing the Women's Reservation Bill, the Congress-led opposition alliance in Lok Sabha has committed an injustice against women in the country. The people will never forgive them."
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said, "Historic decisions are being taken to empower women under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the opposition is obstructing women's rights due to its narrow politics."
Jharkhand BJP women's wing president Aarti Singh said that the women of Jharkhand have now awakened and are ready to fight to any extent for their honour and rights.
