C.Rajaguru v. The Secretary
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 02.03.2022 CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.MUNISHWAR NATH BHANDARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY W.P.No.12499 of 2021 C.Rajaguru ...Petitioner in person Vs 1.The Secretary Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Secretariat Fort St. George Chennai - 600009.
2.The Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Panagal Building, Chennai - 600015.
...Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for a writ of mandamus directing the 1st and 2nd Respondents to take immediate and appropriate action to install the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in the vicinity of Village Panchayat Offices located all over Tamilnadu as a measure of caste and gender based crime control on the basis of the Petitioners representation dated 17.02.2021 within a time frame.
For the Petitioner : Mr.C.Rajaguru Party-in-person For the Respondents : Mrs.R.Anitha Special Government Pleader
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) This writ petition has been filed to seek a direction on the respondents 1 and 2 to install CCTV cameras in the vicinity of the Village Panchayat offices located all over Tamil Nadu as a measure to control caste and gender based crimes.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that installation of CCTV cameras is necessary and would play a major role in stopping caste and gender based crimes, as such crimes are committed in places where CCTV cameras are not available. Reference of certain incidents was brought to the notice of this court through photographs to indicate that based on caste one was not permitted to hoist the national flag. The photographs aforesaid were captured and placed on record. Reference of murder of a person belonging to scheduled caste has also been made.
3. Apart from the above, learned counsel for the petitioner referred to a Government Order issued by the State Government and the judgment of the Apex Court to install CCTV cameras in the police stations.
4. The issue is within the domain of the State Government to take a policy decision where to install the CCTV cameras and, accordingly, the issue is relegated to the State Government to take a decision in reference to the issue raised by the petitioner.
5. It is, however, clarified that based on few incidents or occurrences, as pointed, a direction cannot be given to install CCTV cameras in the vicinity of the Village Panchayat offices all over the State and if such direction is given, then some other person will approach the Court tomorrow seeking installation of CCTV cameras at other places also.
6. Where CCTC cameras are to be installed is to be decided by the appropriate authority in the Government. It is up to the State Government to take a policy decision in that regard, because the offices of the Village Panchayat cannot be compared with the police stations, where direction was given to install CCTV cameras, considering the serious atrocities committed by the police personnel.
7. Taking into consideration the aforesaid, we close the writ petition with liberty to the petitioner to pursue the cause with the State Government and it would be up to the State Government to take an appropriate decision on the subjectmatter. No costs. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS-IX) // True Copy // Sub Assistant Registrar bbr
To:
1.The Secretary Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Secretariat Fort St. George Chennai - 600009.
2.The Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Panagal Building, Chennai - 600015.
+1cc to Mr.C.Rajaguru, Party-in-Person Sr.No.13716 +1cc to the Government Pleader Sr.No.14202 W.P.No.12499 of 2021 PM(CO) RVM(07/03/2022)