Delhi High Court declines plea to disclose CCTV footage in public interest
Court emphasizes that not all surveillance data should be accessible to the public, citing concerns over policing authority and confidentiality
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a PIL filed by the NGO Save India Foundation which sought directions to make CCTV camera footage installed across Delhi public. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that such a request would equate to, in effect, granting individuals or organizations policing rights.
The Court clarified that CCTV installation and monitoring are integral to policing functions carried out by law enforcement authorities. Allowing public access to such footage could inadvertently enable private entities or individuals to participate in policing activities, which is beyond their constitutional remit.
The Court further remarked that widespread access to CCTV feeds could threaten privacy and security, and that such data sharing must be controlled by the police and relevant authorities within the bounds of the law. Consequently, the Court rejected the plea, emphasizing that the rule of law and proper authorities, not private entities, should govern law enforcement functions.