Delhi HC asks Centre to consider mandatory body cameras for police

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to consider a PIL seeking mandatory use of body-worn cameras by police during protests and crowd-control operations, saying the issue should not be treated as a “grey area” requiring court intervention.The court asked the Centre to take a decision on the plea within six months.A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Nitin Sambhre said any direction on the use of body-worn cameras would have wider implications for policing and could not be confined to the Delhi Police alone.The bench observed while hearing the plea, “Why should we direct them to legislate? It cannot be said that it is a grey area.”The court questioned the need for judicial intervention when existing laws already provide for regulation of police procedures in areas covered by the legislature.The PIL, filed by Chahat Raghav, seeks directions for the mandatory use of body-worn cameras by Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel deployed during protests and crowd-control operations. It also seeks a comprehensive framework governing the storage, retention, integrity and evidentiary use of footage recorded by the cameras.The petitioner has cited the use of body-worn cameras by traffic police and a tender issued for their procurement, arguing that the technology is already available to the authorities.Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that body-worn cameras could enhance transparency and accountability during protests, especially in cases involving allegations of police excesses and counter-allegations against protesters.Sibal said the cameras were already being used by police in some situations, but only sporadically. He argued that the Delhi Police’s 2022 standing order on rallies and demonstrations did not specifically provide for body-worn cameras and that a clear protocol was needed.He also disputed that the existing videography mechanism was sufficient, saying the recording under the standing order was different from footage captured by cameras worn directly by police personnel involved in crowd control.Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the respondents, submitted that the Delhi High Court’s PIL rules require a petitioner to first approach the concerned authorities through a representation. He said the present petition could be treated as such a representation.Sharma also submitted that the Supreme Court, while hearing a matter concerning protests at Jantar Mantar, had directed the authorities to frame an SOP and that the existing mechanism already provides for videography of protests. The court recorded the ASG’s statement and directed the respondents to communicate their decision on framing an SOP for the use of body-worn cameras within six months.

The petitioner was given liberty to approach the High Court again in case of any inaction.The move comes amid heightened security in the New Delhi, Central Delhi and North Delhi districts following a series of demonstrations against the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in large numbers, with multilayered barricades placed at several points to prevent protesters from entering restricted areas.