The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to consider a petition seeking mandatory use of body cameras by police officials as representation and decide within six months.
The court refused to pass an order mandating the use of body cameras. It instead asked the Centre to consider framing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The PIL, filed by Chahat Raghav, sought directions for mandatory use of body-worn cameras by Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel deployed during protests and crowd-control situations. It also sought a comprehensive framework for the storage, retention, integrity and evidentiary use of footage recorded through such cameras. Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that body-worn cameras could improve transparency and accountability during protests, particularly where allegations of police excesses are followed by counter-allegations against protesters. “Use of body worn cameras by police can be inferred from not only tender issued but also use of same by traffic police. The SOP is informed to not be in existence. In such event, there might not be in provision in police manual. However, since statement is made from ASG we deem it appropriate to take same on record. We direct the respondents to communicate decision on framing of SOP regarding use of BWCs within six months.
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Nitin Sambhre said the court must consider the wider implications of any direction on the use of body-worn cameras, as the issue concerns policing as a whole and not just the Delhi Police. In case petitioner is aggrieved by inaction, liberty is granted to approach court afresh,” the court said.
