The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) urged the Union government to consider requests from States for the disbursal of funds towards installation of CCTV cameras and the creation of a centralised monitoring dashboard across police stations.

A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath asked the Centre to ensure the effective implementation of the Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of Police (ASUMP) scheme, under which the Ministry of Home Affairs has undertaken to provide funds for installing CCTV cameras in police stations and setting up a centralised CCTV monitoring dashboard across States and Union Territories.

“...The Union government will consider what further steps can be undertaken to ensure that the scheme is fully implemented,” the Bench observed.

The order was passed in a suo motu proceeding initiated last year after the court took note of a media report from Rajasthan highlighting non-functional CCTV cameras in Udaipur police stations. The court had subsequently sought compliance reports from the Centre, States and Union Territories while reviewing the implementation of its 2021 ruling in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh, which mandated the installation of CCTV cameras at key locations within police stations, including entry and exit points, lock-ups, corridors, reception areas, and inspectors’ and sub-inspectors’ rooms.

Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, assisting the court as amicus curiae, informed the Bench that pursuant to its April 28, 2026, order, a meeting had been convened with the Home Secretaries of the Centre and the States. He further apprised the court that the Union government had indicated that a substantial portion of the funds allocated under the ASUMP scheme, amounting to ₹1,850 crore, remained available towards the creation of CCTV infrastructure.

Compliance by States

In a report filed before the court, Mr. Dave said that although the ASUMP scheme operates within a fixed time frame, the Ministry of Home Affairs had extended it until September 30, 2026. States and Union Territories had accordingly been asked to promptly submit their proposals and action plans to avail themselves of the extended funding window.

“By and large, the States have initiated steps to comply with the directions for the installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations. Most States are proceeding in the right direction and substantial work has been carried out,” he said.

The court was further informed that seven States and Union Territories — Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry — had fully complied with the directions relating to the installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations and the implementation of centralised dashboard monitoring systems.

Mr. Dave, however, pointed out that Jharkhand had not installed CCTV cameras in even a single police station.

“When confronted with this disconcerting fact, the State of Jharkhand stated that a detailed proposal for installation, including a centralised monitoring dashboard, is being prepared and will be submitted shortly. The State has assured that installation of CCTV systems will commence by the end of May 2026 and be completed by November 2026,” the amicus report stated.

The report further noted that although Jharkhand had availed funds under the ASUMP scheme, the amount had not been utilised for the installation of CCTV cameras in police stations.

Plea for funds

The court was also apprised that several States had sought financial assistance under the scheme. Andhra Pradesh had sought ₹36.9 crore, Arunachal Pradesh ₹28.91 crore, and Tripura ₹30 crore, among others, towards the deployment and maintenance of CCTV infrastructure in police stations.

The Bench, however, expressed reservations over Nagaland’s request for ₹239 crore for similar infrastructure.

“The total number of cases instituted and police stations will be minuscule. What is the ₹239 crore for?” the Bench asked. Counsel for the State responded that maintenance costs had also been factored into the proposal.

The Bench thereafter cautioned the Union government to release funds only after undertaking due diligence to guard against any misappropriation. It also directed Mr. Dave to convene another meeting with the Centre and the States to address grievances relating to the release of funds, and posted the matter for further hearing on July 22.