The Assam Government has informed the Gauhati High Court about the completion and functionality of CCTV camera installations in all police stations across the state.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund, was informed that the police stations have a recording storage capacity of one month, while the central server can store recordings for up to one year.
On June 16, the Assam Government had informed the court that Phase-I had equipped 100 police stations with CCTVs, and Phase-II had seen the installation and commissioning of CCTVs in 197 police stations.
Regarding the creation of a comprehensive database based on fingerprints and biometrics of every accused individual, the court was informed that this process is being carried out through the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), with the State Finger Print Bureau (SFPB), CID Organization, Assam acting as the State Nodal Agency. Approximately 50,017 fingerprints of arrested and convicted individuals from Assam have been digitized and uploaded to the Central Server.
The court appreciated the efforts of the State of Assam and emphasized that the collected biometrics should also be integrated into the ‘e-Prisons’ software.
The Advocate General of Arunachal Pradesh, B. D. Goswami, presented a factual report indicating that a similar process is underway in the state to prepare a database of fingerprints and biometrics. However, it was noted that the software for this purpose is yet to be developed, and a request has been made to the relevant department.
The Advocate General also informed the court that CCTV cameras have been installed in 110 functional police stations in Arunachal Pradesh. Regarding the establishment of a centrally located Control Room, the progress of the project is contingent on the allocation of funds.
Furthermore, the court has included the States of Nagaland and Mizoram in the ongoing suo moto PIL.
