In a significant move towards greater transparency and accountability, the Kerala High Court has issued a stern directive to the State government. It has demanded a detailed report within three weeks, specifically addressing the current status, availability, and effective functioning of CCTV cameras across all police stations in the region.
Further emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding citizen rights, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji also instructed the government to provide a report on the courts designated to hear human rights cases, ensuring their accessibility and operational efficiency.
These crucial directives stem from a powerful public interest litigation (PIL). The petition was notably spearheaded by Congress leader V. S. Sujith from Kunnamkulam, who tragically became a victim of police brutality, with the shocking CCTV footage of his assault widely circulating. The PIL, supported by others, called for urgent measures to install and diligently monitor CCTVs in police stations and to ensure that district-level courts handling human rights cases are operating effectively and without hindrance.