CCTVs in police station: SC asks amicus to convene meeting on utilisation of funds

 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that a meeting be convened on May 6 to deliberate on the aspect of utilisation of funds by the states on installation of CCTVs in police stations across the country.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, who is assisting it as an amicus curia in a Suo Motu matter concerning lack of functional CCTVs in police stations, to hold a meeting on May 6 with the Centre, all States and Union Territories.

“We are of the view that a meeting be convened by the amicus, as done earlier, in which the home secretary of the central Government or his nominee not below the rank of joint or additional secretary and the home secretary of States/Union Territories will participate,” the bench said.

The issue cropped up after the amicus flagged the aspect of utilisation of funds by the states.

Dave told the bench that in UTs, the Centre gives 100 percent funds while in hilly States, the central Government gives 90 percent funding.

He said in remaining states, the Centre gives 60 percent while the rest 40 percent funding is by the respective state.

“Why don’t we get responses of the states only on utilisation of funds?” the bench said.

The top court suggested that the amicus can convene a meeting with the Centre, States and UTs on the issue.