The Union Government has informed the Supreme Court that it is formulating a comprehensive scheme for the modernisation of police forces across the country, while extending the existing Assistance to States and Union Territories for Modernisation of Police (ASUMP) scheme until March 31, 2027.
The submission was made before a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta during the hearing of the suo motu proceedings concerning the installation and functioning of CCTV cameras in police stations. Additional Solicitor General Rajkumar Bhaskar Thakare apprised the Court that the proposed umbrella scheme has already been forwarded to the Department of Expenditure in the Ministry of Finance for in-principle approval.
According to the Centre, the proposed initiative is expected to be modelled on the existing ASUMP framework, which provides financial assistance to States and Union Territories for strengthening police infrastructure and technology. Pending the rollout of the new scheme, the present programme has been extended for another year.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing as amicus curiae, welcomed the proposal but urged that police modernisation should not be confined to procuring vehicles and other conventional equipment. He submitted that the new framework should focus on equipping law enforcement agencies with advanced technology, scientific tools for investigation, and modern policing infrastructure.
Justice Mehta echoed the concern, observing that true police modernisation must involve deployment of high-end technological equipment capable of improving investigative efficiency and accountability, rather than merely augmenting logistical resources.
Taking note of the Centre’s submissions, the Bench directed the Union Government to place on record, by way of an affidavit, the salient features of the proposed scheme. The matter has been adjourned for further consideration.
The proceedings arise from a suo motu case initiated by the Supreme Court over the inadequate implementation of its earlier directions mandating functional CCTV cameras in police stations across the country. The Court had taken cognisance of reports highlighting custodial deaths and deficiencies in surveillance infrastructure.
In Paramvir Singh Saini v. Baljit Singh (2020), the Supreme Court had directed every State and Union Territory to install CCTV cameras in all police stations and ensure adequate storage of footage to promote transparency and safeguard the rights of persons in custody. However, subsequent compliance reports revealed that many cameras remained either non-functional or had not been installed at all.
Over the course of the suo motu proceedings, the Court has repeatedly stressed that mere installation of surveillance cameras is insufficient unless effective monitoring, maintenance, uninterrupted power supply and tamper-proof mechanisms are also put in place. It has also explored the possibility of centralised, technology-driven monitoring to ensure that CCTV systems remain operational at all times.
The proposed police modernisation scheme is expected to address these concerns by providing a broader framework for upgrading policing infrastructure and investigative capabilities across the country. The Supreme Court will examine the details of the proposal after the Union files its affidavit.
The post Centre tells Supreme Court comprehensive Police modernisation scheme is under consideration; Existing ASUMP extended till March 2027 appeared first on India Legal.