Tamil Nadu Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Agarwal informed the Madras High Court that 1,071 of the state's 2,100 police stations have been equipped to retain CCTV footage for 18 months. This initiative follows a Supreme Court directive requiring extended storage, with the state government sanctioning funds in December 2024 to upgrade surveillance systems across 1,567 stations. The work is being executed through the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu, with contracts for an additional 507 stations expected to be awarded shortly.
Each station is being fitted with six Internet Protocol cameras featuring night vision and audio-video recording capabilities. These systems cover critical areas including reception halls, lock-up rooms, and officers' cabins. The police department plans to install or upgrade surveillance in a further 476 stations, including various special units that register First Information Reports, with vendors required to complete work within two months of contract awards.
During the proceedings, Justice V. Lakshminarayanan addressed concerns regarding the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption not meeting the 18-month storage requirement. The court was informed that the Directorate operates under the Human Resources Management department rather than the police force. Consequently, the judge has ordered the Human Resources Management Secretary to submit a report within one week explaining the delay in funding for those specific offices.
