Arvind Kejriwal wants CCTV cameras to be installed without police permission. Lt Governor reminds rules
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has given a go-ahead to an ambitious project for installation of CCTVs across the national capital and wants the matter to be placed on his cabinet's agenda within a week, officials said on Monday.
In an act of defiance, Mr Kejriwal had yesterday said "no mandatory permission" should be required from the police to install CCTV cameras, as he tore apart the report of a committee set up by Lt Governor Anil Baijal on working out the guidelines for installation and monitoring of surveillance cameras.
In a meeting with officials and PWD minister Satyendar Jain, Mr Kejriwal asserted again that no police permission was needed for installation of CCTV cameras in Delhi, a government official said.
"The Chief Minister gave the go ahead to the CCTV camera project and directed for bringing project agenda before the cabinet within a week," the official said.
Mr Kejriwal had said yesterday that "the report says that every owner and data controller of CCTV system collecting any information from public space shall report to the appropriate authority and, the appropriate authority and police shall visit and assess if CCTVs are needed or not."
However, the Lt Governor's office in a statement had claimed that the rules were only at a "draft stage" and had been put out in public domain for suggestions and clarifications.
The Aam Aadmi Party government has accused Mr Baijal of stalling the CCTV camera project that was crucial for ensuring safety of women in the city.
The Lt Governor's office statement had also sought to clarify that the committee formed under the Principal Secretary (Home) has only prescribed a reporting mechanism for CCTVs and not a licensing mechanism".