District Magistrate Sachin Kumar Vaishya has issued an order for mandatory installation of CCTV cameras at key establishments across Jammu to enhance public security. The directive, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, seeks to improve surveillance through technology.
The order applies to banking and financial institutions, business establishments and public spaces with high foot traffic. These include banks, ATMs, jewellery shops, petrol pumps, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, cinemas, liquor shops, Educational institutions, places of worship, transportation hubs, hospitals, offices etc.
Establishments and market associations have been asked to install CCTV cameras within two weeks, covering entry and exit points up to 40 meters. The systems are required to operate continuously with power backup, maintaining a resolution of at least 1920x1080 and store footage for 30 days.
The CCTV footage must be provided to law enforcement agencies when requested and any suspicious activity observed should be reported to the local Station House Officers (SHO). The SHOs will compile a list of non-compliant establishments for submission through SSP Jammu.
The order takes effect on February 17, 2025, for an initial period of eight weeks, with the possibility of extensions or modifications. Non-compliance will be subject to legal action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.