On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the Bombay High Court issued a significant directive concerning surveillance infrastructure within law enforcement facilities. A division bench, presided over by Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad, ordered the State's Director General of Police (DGP) to submit a comprehensive report regarding the status of closed-circuit television (CCTV) installations in police stations across Maharashtra.
The court's primary objective is to ascertain the current state of surveillance technology, specifically requiring the DGP to confirm whether every police station in the state is equipped with functional CCTV cameras. Beyond mere installation, the judiciary has demanded a station-wise account that details the exact number of cameras present, their operational working condition, and the specific policies currently in place regarding data preservation.
A critical component of this judicial order is the mandate for transparency regarding footage management. The court has explicitly instructed the DGP to clarify the duration for which recorded CCTV data is retained at each respective police station, ensuring that the bench can evaluate how long evidence is being preserved for potential investigative or oversight purposes.
This directive reflects the High Court's firm intent to gather factual, ground-level information regarding the availability and maintenance of surveillance facilities in police premises. Once the detailed report is submitted within the timeframe to be specified in an upcoming order, the bench will examine the findings to determine the level of compliance regarding the requirement for functional surveillance equipment.