Chandigarh, May 10: Taking a U-turn on its initiative to install 660 CCTV cameras across the city, the Chandigarh Police on Thursday claimed that the scheme had been merged with the Smart City project.
As the petition filed in public interest against the rising incidents of snatching came up for resumed hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Chandigarh Police placed on record an affidavit. Among other things, the affidavit, dated May 10, said the proposal for installing the cameras stood merged with the Government of India project of June 2016. It was under the active consideration of the Engineering Department.
Chandigarh Smart City Limited, an independent corporation, would now undertake the project. The affidavit filed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Amrao Singh added that the High Court could direct the corporation to provide the latest information regarding installation of CCTV cameras across the city.
The affidavit stated: “The Chief Engineer, UT, Chandigarh, also be made a party-respondent to the present case so as to provide information for the period when the project with regard to installation of CCTV cameras was transferred from the office of the the Inspector General of Police”.
The affidavit assumes significance as an impression was given by the Chandigarh Police during the previous hearing that 660 CCTV cameras were being installed. Taking a note of the assertion, the Bench had directed it “to file the latest status report giving details of how many CCTV cameras have been installed year-wise”.
The DSP added in the affidavit that 15,000 cameras across the city were suggested as per a survey conducted in 2016-17. Of the total, 14,000 cameras have been installed by private persons as on March 6.
Certain suggestions have also been given in the affidavit for effectively tackling the menace of chain snatching. It said the trial courts should properly verify the persons who stood surety for the accused in chain-snatching cases; the trial courts should also carefully consider grant of bail in case of habitual offenders in chain-snatching cases. The suggestions also include advice to the UT Administration to take steps to tackle the menace of drug and substance abuse, which was cited as one of the reasons behind chain snatchings.
Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain also informed the Bench that the Union of India had sought certain information from the Administration, which had not been provided till date. As such, the Centre has not been able to take a decision on making stringent provisions in the IPC for punishing snatchers.
