Hyderabad High Court seeks Telangana , Andhra Pradesh stand on cameras in hostels

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State to spell out their stand on a PIL seeking to install CCTV cameras in old age, juvenile and convent homes, orphanages, madrasas and hostels run by government and private managements.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil Radhakrishnan and Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with the PIL by a Hyderabad-based businessman D. Narasimha Chary seeking to order that all the above-mentioned establishments in both states be mandated to have CCTV coverage of corridors, halls, entry and exit points in common areas.

The petitioner submitted that in view of the allegations of harassment of inmates in shelter homes by the managements it would be necessary to have CCTV cameras.

He urged the court to direct the authorities concerned to ensure that 3-month data is recorded always adding that every CCTV camera must be operational.and in case of repair/nonfunctioning it must be repaired or rectified within 48 hours.

Stating that the governments are insisting that every business house must have the CCTV cameras, he questioned as to why they are not insisting the same to shelter homes.

While issuing notices to the chief secretaries of AP and Telangana state, the bench directed them to file their counter-affidavits explaining their stand on the plea within two weeks.