📄 Citizen Pocket Legal Shield (Printable 1-Page Offline Card)
Top 10 essential everyday protections formatted to print on 1 page or save on phone.
Custodial Rights
✅ CCTV WITH AUDIO MANDATORY IN ALL POLICE STATIONS
🌐 All-India Central Act
Custodial Abuse in Police Station: Can you access CCTV footage to prove police misconduct?
YES. The Supreme Court in Paramvir Singh Saini (2020) made it mandatory for all police stations in India to have functioning CCTV cameras with night vision and audio recording in all lockups, corridors, and inspector rooms, preserved for 18 months.
Governing Law:
Supreme Court of India Directives in Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh (2020)
Constitutional Articles:
Article 21 (Protection against Torture & Custodial Violence), Article 20(3) (Right against Coercion)
(Art 21 →)
(Art 20 →)
Exact Words to Speak Calmly:
🛡️ Article 21, 20 Shield
“Preserve CCTV footage under Paramvir Singh Saini mandate. (Protected under Article 21 (Protection against Torture & Custodial Violence), Article 20(3) (Right against Coercion)).”
What the Law Says
- • 1. CCTV cameras with clear audio recording must cover entrance, lockups, corridors, reception, and sub-inspector rooms.
- • 2. Footage must be preserved for at least 18 months by state authorities.
- • 3. If police claim cameras were "not working" during an alleged torture incident, courts draw an adverse criminal inference against the police.
What to Say & Do Calmly (Step-by-Step)
- 1. Immediately note down the exact date, time, and specific room of the police station where the misconduct occurred.
- 2. Submit an urgent application to the Superintendent of Police (SP) and CJM: "Preserve CCTV footage under Paramvir Singh Saini mandate."
- 3. File an immediate complaint before the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and Police Complaints Authority (PCA).
- 4. Move the High Court under Section 528 BNSS / Article 226 for judicial direction to seize the DVR.