In a significant step towards attaining transparency, the Supreme Court has directed that at least two districts in every state and Union Territory should install CCTV cameras at important locations in court complexes.

A Bench comprising Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit directed the high courts across the country to ensure that the district and sessions courts install CCTV cameras inside courtrooms within three months but without audio recording.

The top court, however, made it clear that the footage of the CCTV will not be available under the RTI and will not be supplied to anyone without permission of the high court concerned.

“We direct that at least in two districts in every state/ Union Territory (with the exception of small states/Union territories where it may be considered to be difficult to do so by the high courts concerned) CCTV cameras (without audio recording) may be installed inside the courts and at such important locations of the court complexes as may be considered appropriate.

The matter was listed for next hearing on August 9 for further consideration.

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