Suspicious mindset of police is the root cause of human rights violations: HC

Court disapproves of the attempt to monitor each and every activity of individuals through CCTV cameras

The mindset of the police to look at every individual with suspicion and to monitor each and every activity by installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in every other place possible is quite disturbing. Such a mindset is the root cause of all human rights violations, and to take a stand that the right to privacy must be superseded by suspicion is certainly untenable, the Madras High Court has said.

Justice Krishnan Ramasamy wrote so while disagreeing with the view of the Director-General of Police (DGP) that the installation of CCTV cameras should be made mandatory in all places except restrooms, both inside and outside clubs and recreation centres, in order to prevent gambling. The judge said all members could not be put under surveillance for the illegalities committed by a few.