5 out of 16 CCTV cameras defunct in lock-up cells of Patiala House Courts

The CCTV cameras installed in the lock-up cells of the Patiala House Courts complex where Under Trial Prisoners (UTPs) are kept till the time they are produced in front of a judge in a courtroom are partially defunct.

Out of the 16 CCTV cameras installed in the lock up premises, five are non-functional, said highly-placed sources. The responsibility of protecting the UTPs lies with the 3rd Battalion of the Delhi Armed Police (DAP).

“On a regular day, around 70-80 policemen guard the entire lock up premises to ensure an easy and smooth passage of Under Trial Prisoners. Although prior information is provided by the district heads (DCPs) about the concerned criminal or gangs, the CCTV cameras help in keeping a close eye on the prisoners,” said sources.

The Battalion maintains a large book that records the time at which a convict is brought inside the lock up cell and the exact time when he is escorted to the court for hearing.

“The convicts are brought in the lock up in the morning and by 4:30 pm, when all the hearings get over, all convicts are frisked through Door Frame Metal Detector and made to sit in the respective jail vans and thereby escorted back to their respective jails,” said an official of the Battalion.

“If during the process of ferrying the convicts, anything untoward happens within our custody, for instance a prisoner tries to escape while being produced in a court, then the 3rd Battalion will be held accountable,” said the official.

“Despite large presence of Armed Police Forces inside the lock up premises, it is imperative to keep a hawk’s eye on the movement of prisoners who are produced in the district courts and this can only be facilitated through a fully functioning CCTV system. If the system or a part of the system stops working, it tends to create problems,” said a senior police official.

“The responsibility of maintaining CCTV cameras within the court lock up premises entirely lies with the concerned court. We are solely responsible for ferrying the Under Trial Prisoners to and from the jail,” said S K Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner of Police, 3rd Battalion of the Delhi Armed Police.