HC directs Chief Secy to probe ‘bias’ in CCTV installation
New Delhi, August 27
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi Chief Secretary to examine and address the allegations made by the BJP leader Abhay Verma, who accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of selectively installing CCTV cameras in areas represented by its own legislators.
A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Verma, who is the MLA from the Lakshmi Nagar constituency and also serves as BJP Delhi’s vice-pesident.
Verma alleged that despite the then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s budget approval for the installation of 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras during the 2020-21 fiscal year, the Delhi PWD Minister was granted the authority to approve the specific locations for these installations.
Verma’s counsel, Advocate Satya Ranjan Swain, argued that the Public Works Department (PWD) was implementing a “pick-and-choose” policy, favouring areas with AAP-elected leaders for camera installations.
However, the Delhi Government’s standing counsel, Santosh Kumar Tripathi, countered these claims, asserting that the installation process was based on detailed surveys and input from all relevant stakeholders, with no bias involved.
The high court instructed the Chief Secretary to treat the PIL as a formal representation and to make a decision on the matter within two weeks.
