CCTVs in Delhi: It's CM Arvind Kejriwal vs L-G Anil Baijal Yet Again, This Time Over Installation Of Cameras In National Capital

New Delhi, July 12: A CCTV war has erupted between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal. Kejriwal has lashed out at L-G's recommendation that the Delhi Government must obtain a licence from the police to install CCTVs in the city. Calling it 'Licence Raj', the Chief Minister said that this will increase corruption in the national capital.

"L-G’s committee recommends mandatory licence/permission from police to install CCTV cameras by private or govt bodies. All existing CCTVs will also need police licence. Height of license Raj in 21st century. Nowhere in the world is such a licence reqd," Kejriwal tweeted on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister also posed several questions to the L-G as well as police.

"What will police see before giving CCTV licence? On what basis will police give licence? It will only increase bribery. It's a huge blow to women safety because all existing cameras in Delhi will have to be removed till they obtain licence and all new CCTVs will have to wait for licence," Kejriwal added.

The Delhi Police, meanwhile, has said that this was just a suggestion and not a rule as yet. Special commissioner Praveer Ranjan of Delhi Police said as quoted by Times Of India that no such recommendation has been made and that there was only a suggestion in the draft proposal that police must be informed about installation of CCTVs.

This comes days after the Supreme Court ruled that the L-G was bound by the decisions taken by the Delhi government except for those relating to land, police and public order.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 12, 2018 11:12 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).