New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi chief secretary (CS) to decide within two weeks a representation by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA alleging that the Delhi government’s Public Works Department (PWD) was following a pick and choose policy whereby CCTV cameras were only installed in the areas where leaders of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were elected.
BJP MLA approached the High Court for installation of CCTV cameras in Laxmi Nagar
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed this to the chief secretary while disposing of a plea by petitioner Abhay Verma, BJP MLA from Laxmi Nagar assembly constituency in East Delhi seeking a direction to the authorities concerned to grant sanction and install CCTV cameras in the Laxmi Nagar assembly constituency as per the Bharat Electronic Limited survey report.
CCTV cameras being only installed in areas where AAP leaders were elected: BJP MLA
Verma submitted that the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had in his budget speech granted sanction for installation of CCTV cameras and the PWD minister was given the power for approving installation of CCTV cameras, however, this power was misused and a “pick and choose policy” was followed by the PWD whereby CCTV cameras were only installed in the areas where leaders of the ruling party were elected.
Non-installation of CCTV cameras was negatively impacting law and order situation: BJP MLA
Verma further submitted that the sanction for the installation of cameras in different assembly constituencies was granted sanction by the PWD minister, however, only Laxmi Nagar was deliberately left out. He claimed in his plea that the non-installation of CCTV cameras in Laxi Nagar assembly constituency was negatively impacting the law and order situation and the safety and security of the residents of the constituency were at high risk.
What did the Delhi government tell the High Court?
The counsel representing the Delhi government denied the claims of the petitioner and said that there was no discrimination regarding the installation of CCTV cameras and the same cameras was being carried out by the PWD in accordance with a survey conducted.
A total of 2,066 cameras were required for entire Laxmi Nagar assembly constituency as per survey report, BJP MLA told court
The counsel representing petitioner Verma submitted before the court that several representations were given by the petitioner to authorities and one such representation given in 2022 was still pending. The counsel further said that as per the Bharat Electronic Limited survey report, a total of 2,066 cameras were required for the entire Laxmi Nagar assembly constituency.
After hearing the submissions, the High Court said that petitioner’s plea be treated as a representation and directed the Delhi chief secretary to decide it within two weeks, news agency PTI reported.
