Panchkula: Taking suo motu cognisance of a TOI report titled ‘Pkl challans nosedive as cams go dead’, the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has sought detailed reports from the Panchkula municipal corporation commissioner and the police commissioner over the large number of non-functional CCTV cameras in the city.The commission has directed the municipal corporation to furnish location-wise details of all CCTV cameras installed, the number of defunct units, reasons for their non-functionality, and steps taken so far for their repair, replacement or upgradation. It has also sought a clear timeline for restoration of all non-functional cameras and details on whether responsibility has been fixed for the lapse, along with action taken or proposed against erring officials or agencies.Separately, the police commissioner has been asked to submit a report on the impact of non-functional CCTV cameras on traffic enforcement and challan issuance. The commission has sought comparative data of challans issued — manual versus CCTV-based — for the last three years and an assessment of the impact on crime detection, investigation and monitoring of public spaces. Police have also been asked to outline alternative measures adopted to ensure traffic regulation and public safety, and any additional requirements to strengthen surveillance and enforcement.The HHRC has directed that the reports be submitted at least a week before the next date of hearing on May 20.The TOI report on April 10 highlighted that about 200 of the 473 CCTV cameras installed across Panchkula were non-functional, leading to a sharp drop in traffic challans issued through electronic surveillance.Observing that the situation poses serious concerns, the commission noted that large-scale camera failures severely compromise law enforcement’s ability to monitor public spaces, track offenders and respond effectively to crimes, thereby weakening the city’s overall safety framework.
