Delhi High Court asks govt to decide on body cameras for police, RAF in 6 months

The petition had sought the framing of standard operating procedures (SOPs) making the use of body-worn cameras mandatory and continuous for every Delhi Police and RAF personnel deployed for crowd control, protest management or dispersal duties.Delhi Police personnel are deployed with body cameras (Photo: ITG)New Delhi,Oct 7, 2026 13:50 ISTThe Delhi High Court has refused to direct the Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) to mandatorily wear body-worn cameras during crowd-control and protest-management duties.A bench directed the government to treat the public interest litigation (PIL) seeking mandatory use of body cameras as a representation and decide on it within six months.The petition had sought the framing of standard operating procedures (SOPs) making the use of body-worn cameras mandatory and continuous for every Delhi Police and RAF personnel deployed for crowd control, protest management or dispersal duties.PETITION SEEKS MANDATORY CAMERA USEThe petitioner argued that the technology required for body-worn cameras is already available and that their use would go a long way towards ensuring greater transparency in policing. The plea sought that cameras remain operational from the beginning of deployment until personnel are stood down from duty.COURT LEAVES DECISION TO GOVERNMENTWhile declining to issue a direction making body cameras mandatory, the High Court asked the government to consider the PIL as a representation. The government has been given six months to examine the demand and take a decision on the proposed SOPs and mandatory use of body-worn cameras by police and RAF personnel during such deployments.- Ends