Delhi HC Asks Centre to Consider Body Cameras for Police in Protests

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to consider a representation seeking standard operating procedures for police and rapid action force personnel to use 'always-on' body-worn cameras during crowd-control and protest-management duties. 

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Arun Bhardwaj disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) in this regard and asked the government to treat it as a representation and communicate its decision to the petitioner within six months.

The court passed the order



after the additional solicitor general (ASG), representing the Centre, said the petition can be treated as a representation by the authorities and they will communicate the decision to the petitioner within six months. "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 the statement is made by the ASG, we deem it appropriate to take same on record," it said.