HHRC asks Panchkula MC chief and top police officer for detailed CCTV reports before May 20 hearing

The Haryana Human Rights Commission directed the Panchkula municipal commissioner and the police commissioner to file detailed reports on non-functional CCTV cameras in the city. The municipal commissioner must provide the status of all cameras, numbers operational, reasons for malfunction, steps taken for repair or replacement, a clear restoration timeline, and whether accountability has been fixed with actions against negligent officials or agencies. The police commissioner must report on how non-functional cameras have affected crime detection and traffic enforcement, include comparative data of manual versus CCTV-based challans over the past three years, and outline any alternative measures adopted to maintain public safety. Reports must be filed at least one week before the next hearing on May 20. The directives followed the suo motu cognisance of the April 10 media report and emphasize that maintenance gaps undermine traffic management, law and order, and citizens’ sense of security, potentially affecting the right to life and safety under Article 21.

A media report dated April 10, 2026 highlighted that nearly 200 out of 473 CCTV cameras installed in Panchkula are non-functional. The Haryana Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of this report, citing concerns about public safety and the maintenance of surveillance infrastructure, and noting that traffic police concerns over timely repair and maintenance have not been sufficiently addressed due to administrative inaction.