उपराज्यपाल, दिल्ली

It is incorrect and misleading to say that Office of LG is delaying the installation of CCTV cameras, Hon’ble LG writes to Hon’ble CM
No proposal relating to award of the work for installation of CCTV cameras has been received in this office : LG to CM
Proposal for award of work for installation of CCTV cameras is pending with the elected government only and no directions have been issued by this office to stall or stop the award of work for CCTV tender : LG
To use CCTVs cameras effectively for law enforcement, prevention of crime and investigation; an SOP/regulatory framework for CCTVs is needed - that’s why Committee set up.
I am sure you would agree with me on the need for putting in place a framework to monitor the working of CCTVs as you yourself had complained to me on 10.05.2018 about the unfortunate incident of death of a girl in a Delhi Government school, where the recordings of CCTV cameras on the date of the incident are not available : LG to CM
This only seems to be an attempt to sidetrack the core issue of women’s safety and the lackadaisical approach of the elected government on this issue so far.
Hon’ble LG has written to Hon’ble CM in response to the letter of Hon’ble Dy. CM where he has alleged that Hon’ble LG has stalled the installations of CCTVs in Delhi and informed that Hon’ble Chief Minister, Sh. Arvind Kejriwal would march to LG’s office along with his Ministers and MLAs to discuss the CCTV project on 14.05.2018.

Hon’ble LG has stated that it is unfortunate that repeatedly and deliberately, the general public and the media are being misled that Office of LG is delaying the installation of CCTV cameras. This is far from truth.

No proposal relating to award of work for installation of CCTV cameras has been received in the office of the Lt. Governor. It is learnt that a Cabinet Note on the issue of award of work for installation of CCTV cameras by PWD is yet to be circulated, so the matter is pending with the elected government only. No directions have been issued by this office to stall or stop the award of work for CCTV tender.

While the elected government has been talking about installation of CCTVs for the last three years without much concrete progress, more than 2 lakh cameras have already been installed in the city by Delhi Police, DMRC, DDA, local bodies, market associations, RWAs, etc. However, these are being used without any Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and regulatory frame-work. Uncontrolled and unregulated mushrooming of CCTVs does not lead to any effective outcome for security and law enforcement and it may encroach upon the privacy of individuals. So to use these cameras effectively for law enforcement, prevention of crime and investigation, an SOP/regulatory framework for CCTVs is imperative.

The Committee has been set up to frame comprehensive rules, policies and procedures for installation, operation and monitoring of CCTVs in public places to support public safety and law enforcement and in order to prevent CCTVs from becoming a tool to violate privacy of individuals and to ensure clear responsibility and accountability for all surveillance camera system activities. The order setting up the Committee nowhere directs that the work of award of CCTV cameras by elected government be stalled.

Hon’ble LG has also observed that Hon’ble CM would agree with the need for putting in place a framework to monitor the working of CCTVs as Hon’ble CM himself had complained to him on 10.05.2018 about the unfortunate incident of death of a girl in a Delhi Government school, where the recordings of CCTV cameras on the date of the incident are not available.

In such circumstances, the misleading information being spread in the media that the proposal of award of work is stalled by the office of Lt. Governor is unfortunate and seems to be an attempt to sidetrack the core issue of women’s safety and the lackadaisical approach of the elected government on this issue.