HC asks TN govt to formulate proposal on CCTV for all courts

Chennai, Aug 22 (PTI) The Madras High Court today directedthe Tamil Nadu government to formulate within four weeks aproposal for installation of CCTV inside courts across thestate. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul andJustice R Mahadevan gave the interim order on a PIL afterorally observing that allegations of alteration of witnessdepositions can be prevented if closed-circuit television(CCTV) is available inside court halls. Petitioner S Kasiramalingam, an advocate, has sought adirection to the state government and Registrar General of thehigh court to install CCTV in all courts. The bench agreed with the submissions of the petitioner’scounsel that as per the counter-affidavit filed by thegovernment, the cost for setting up CCTV in all court premisesin the state would not go beyond Rs five crore. Noting that funds were stated to have been released for aproposal for CCTV system in the Madras High Court and itsbench in Madurai, besides district courts in the city, bothinside court halls and the outer areas as well, it said asimilar proposal has to emanate for courts in all districts. Directing government departments concerned to fullycooperate in formulation of the proposal within four weeks,the bench adjourned the matter to October 17. PTI CORR VSSCMAV