The Delhi High Court has declined to issue an explicit directive making body-worn cameras mandatory for Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed during crowd control and protests. Instead, the court left the policy decision to the government, directing that the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) be treated as a representation and a final decision be taken within six months.
The PIL had sought strict guidelines ensuring that security personnel deployed in sensitive law-and-order situations wear functional body cameras throughout their duty hours. The petitioners argued that deploying such readily available technology would significantly enhance transparency, accountability, and mutual trust between law enforcement agencies and citizens.
Balancing Security and Accountability
While the High Court chose not to issue a blanket mandate at this stage, it instructed the authorities to thoughtfully evaluate the proposal. Meanwhile, acknowledging the ground realities, Delhi Police have independently begun equipping frontline personnel in high-security zones with body-worn cameras during ongoing demonstrations.
According to police insiders, digital footage captured by these devices helps document real-time interactions, minimizing ambiguities during friction points between protestors and security personnel. Such objective visual records are expected to streamline internal inquiries and judicial reviews when grievances are formally raised.
This report is based on judicial proceedings and official updates. 'The Freelance' maintains journalistic neutrality in reporting institutional developments and policy debates.
