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The Supreme Court connected Wednesday (May 13, 2026) urged the Union authorities to see requests from States for the disbursal of funds towards installation of CCTV cameras and the instauration of a centralised monitoring dashboard crossed constabulary stations.
A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath asked the Centre to guarantee the effectual implementation of the Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of Police (ASUMP) scheme, nether which the Ministry of Home Affairs has undertaken to supply funds for installing CCTV cameras successful constabulary stations and mounting up a centralised CCTV monitoring dashboard crossed States and Union Territories.
“...The Union authorities volition see what further steps tin beryllium undertaken to guarantee that the strategy is afloat implemented,” the Bench observed.
The bid was passed successful a suo motu proceeding initiated past twelvemonth aft the tribunal took enactment of a media study from Rajasthan highlighting non-functional CCTV cameras successful Udaipur constabulary stations. The tribunal had subsequently sought compliance reports from the Centre, States and Union Territories portion reviewing the implementation of its 2021 ruling successful Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh, which mandated the installation of CCTV cameras astatine cardinal locations wrong constabulary stations, including introduction and exit points, lock-ups, corridors, reception areas, and inspectors’ and sub-inspectors’ rooms.
Senior advocator Siddhartha Dave, assisting the tribunal arsenic amicus curiae, informed the Bench that pursuant to its April 28, 2026, order, a gathering had been convened with the Home Secretaries of the Centre and the States. He further apprised the tribunal that the Union authorities had indicated that a important information of the funds allocated nether the ASUMP scheme, amounting to ₹1,850 crore, remained disposable towards the instauration of CCTV infrastructure.
Compliance by States
In a study filed earlier the court, Mr. Dave said that though the ASUMP strategy operates wrong a fixed clip frame, the Ministry of Home Affairs had extended it until September 30, 2026. States and Union Territories had accordingly been asked to promptly taxable their proposals and enactment plans to avail themselves of the extended backing window.
“By and large, the States person initiated steps to comply with the directions for the installation of CCTV cameras successful each constabulary stations. Most States are proceeding successful the close absorption and important enactment has been carried out,” helium said.
The tribunal was further informed that 7 States and Union Territories — Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry — had afloat complied with the directions relating to the installation of CCTV cameras successful each constabulary stations and the implementation of centralised dashboard monitoring systems.
Mr. Dave, however, pointed retired that Jharkhand had not installed CCTV cameras successful adjacent a azygous constabulary station.
“When confronted with this disconcerting fact, the State of Jharkhand stated that a elaborate connection for installation, including a centralised monitoring dashboard, is being prepared and volition beryllium submitted shortly. The State has assured that installation of CCTV systems volition commence by the extremity of May 2026 and beryllium completed by November 2026,” the amicus study stated.
The study further noted that though Jharkhand had availed funds nether the ASUMP scheme, the magnitude had not been utilised for the installation of CCTV cameras successful constabulary stations.
Plea for funds
The tribunal was besides apprised that respective States had sought fiscal assistance nether the scheme. Andhra Pradesh had sought ₹36.9 crore, Arunachal Pradesh ₹28.91 crore, and Tripura ₹30 crore, among others, towards the deployment and attraction of CCTV infrastructure successful constabulary stations.
The Bench, however, expressed reservations implicit Nagaland’s petition for ₹239 crore for akin infrastructure.
“The full fig of cases instituted and constabulary stations volition beryllium minuscule. What is the ₹239 crore for?” the Bench asked. Counsel for the State responded that attraction costs had besides been factored into the proposal.
The Bench thereafter cautioned the Union authorities to merchandise funds lone aft undertaking owed diligence to defender against immoderate misappropriation. It besides directed Mr. Dave to convene different gathering with the Centre and the States to code grievances relating to the merchandise of funds, and posted the substance for further proceeding connected July 22.
