The Gujarat High Court expressed shock and displeasure that its order to install CCTV cameras in the High Court Registry isn’t implemented yet. Taking a serious note about the non-compliance, Justice Sandeep Bhatt directed the Registrar of the High Court to arrange to install the CCTV cameras without further delay and complete the task before January 15.
This situation cannot be tolerated and continued any further,” he said.
The Gujarat High Court had passed an order to install CCTV cameras strategically in every corner of the Registry on November 8, 2023.
The issue was highlighted following an accusation against a practising advocate, appointed as a Court Commissioner in Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), who reportedly tampered with court records.
The order read: “Therefore, let the Registrar General, with the help of Registrar (SCMS & ICT), Registrar (Vigilance) and Registrar (Judicial) do needful in the matter by also coordinating with the Additional Secretary to the Hon’ble the Chief Justice, who is in-charge of CCTV cameras to expedite the process of installation of cameras in each corner of the Registry strategically covering every table and in functional mode and also if required the cameras can be installed in the Court rooms also as stated by the Registrars.”
The High Court noted, “…for reasons best known to the Registrar (SCMS & ICT)”, there has been no further development in the matter of installation of CCTVs. The High Court pointed out that the instructions were disregarded despite it having ‘urgency and seriousness’ and in spite of the specific approval given by the Chief Justice about eight months ago.”
“This is very disturbing state of affairs on the side of the administration of the High Court,” the court said, adding that “if such cameras would have been installed in the building, more particularly, in the civil board, then the real culprit would have been immediately identified and could have been booked.”
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