NEW DELHI: The Allahabad high court, in an order dated July 28, held that non-functional generators, solar panels and CCTV cameras at police stations amount to a “dereliction in discharge of duties” by the Superintendent of Police. Observing that police stations are sensitive establishments which requires uninterrupted power, the court directed the Uttar Pradesh DGP to ensure all police stations across the state have functional backup power systems and CCTV cameras.Why did the petitioner approach the high court?According to the court order, the observations came while the high court was hearing a petition filed by Nagendra Kumar Yaqdav, who alleged that he was illegally detained in the lock-up of Bhaluani police station in Deoria district, when he had gone there to lodge a complaint. Earlier, the court had directed the station house officer (SHO) to appear in person and explain the allegations.During the hearing, the SHO claimed that CCTV footage from the police station could not be examined because there was no electricity supply on the relevant day. He further alleged that although the police station had a generator set, it was not in working condition and the station was entirely dependent on electricity supplied by the power corporation.Finding the explanation unsatisfactory, the court asked for a detailed report from the electricity department about the power supply on the same date and directed the Superintendent of Police, Deoria, to explain why the generator had remained unrepaired. It also ordered that the CCTV hard drive be secured immediately to prevent any possibility of tampering.Subsequently, the Executive Engineer informed the court that although there was scheduled power rostering in the area, electricity had been supplied for more than 13 hours on the same day. The State also informed the court that the CCTV hard disk had been taken into safe custody and would be produced before it.Why did the high court make these observations?The bench comprising Justice Ajit Kumar and Justice Garima Prashad found that the affidavit filed by the Superintendent of Police revealed that both the generator set and the solar panel at the police station had remained non-functional for a long period. The inquiry report showed that the generator had not been working since December 2024, while the solar panel was also out of order. Despite this, neither the police station nor its officers had written to higher authorities for repairs or maintenance.The court also questioned the SHO, who had been posted at the police station since August 31, 2025, about why he had made no effort to get the generator repaired or the solar panel maintained. The officer had no satisfactory answer but assured the court that the generator would be repaired within a few days.Observing that uninterrupted electricity is essential for police stations, particularly in rural areas, the bench said maintaining backup power systems is the responsibility of senior police officers.“If the CCTV cameras are not working in different police stations and electricity back up means like gen-sets and solar panels are not working then it is a dereliction in discharge of duties by Superintendent of Police,” the court observed.The court further said it is the duty of the SP to ensure that every police station in the district remains properly equipped.“It means Senior Superintendent of Police or Superintendent of Police, whosoever is posted there in the district concerned has not been discharging duties properly as it is his duty to ensure that every police station is well equipped police station by all means. The station house officer is equally liable to be held responsible,” the bench added.The court noted that the Superintendent of Police had already treated the SHO’s conduct as a serious lapse and ordered a preliminary inquiry. It expressed hope that decisive action would be taken against those responsible. The bench also directed the SP, Deoria, to appear before it and explain the status of generators, solar panels and CCTV systems at all police stations in the district. Additionally, it directed the DGP, Uttar Pradesh, to issue instructions to all police commissioners, SPs and SSPs across the state to ensure that police stations remain fully equipped with all essential facilities.
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