The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a directive instructing all poll officers to destroy CCTV footage of polling activities 45 days after the declaration of election results, unless legally required for investigation or judicial proceedings.
The move has drawn both administrative support and public scrutiny, with transparency advocates and opposition leaders raising concerns about the implications for election accountability.
📜 What Does the Directive Say?
According to the ECI circular:
CCTV footage captured at strong rooms, vote counting centers, and key polling points should be retained for 45 days after results are declared.
After this period, the footage may be disposed of securely, unless a court case, RTI request, or official investigation demands its preservation.
Poll officers must document the destruction process and report compliance to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of their respective states.
🛑 Why It Matters
The directive aims to streamline storage protocols and reduce data retention burdens on the state machinery. However, critics argue that such footage could serve as crucial evidence in cases of electoral malpractice, logistical errors, or post-poll disputes.
⚖️ Opposition and Transparency Concerns
Political parties and civil society activists have raised red flags:
"Why destroy footage when transparency is the cornerstone of free and fair elections?" asked an opposition spokesperson.
Activists from election monitoring groups have suggested that the footage should be retained for at least six months, if not archived permanently in digital repositories.
🔧 ECI’s Rationale
Officials from the Election Commission have defended the decision, saying that:
CCTV footage is not the primary record of polling (Form 17C, EVM logs, and observer reports are).
Retaining footage indefinitely increases storage costs and risks data breaches.
The 45-day window is sufficient for filing legal challenges or RTI queries.
FAQ:
Q1. What does the ECI’s new directive about CCTV footage state?
A: The Election Commission has instructed poll officers to destroy CCTV footage 45 days after election results are declared unless it is required for legal or official review.
Q2. Why is CCTV footage used in Indian elections?
A: CCTV cameras monitor sensitive areas like strong rooms and counting centers to ensure security and transparency in the electoral process.
Q3. Why are activists concerned about the 45-day limit?
A: Critics argue that destroying footage after 45 days may hinder transparency and make it difficult to investigate allegations of irregularities post-election.
Q4. Can footage still be preserved beyond 45 days?
A: Yes, if the footage is required for court proceedings, RTI requests, or investigations, it must be retained until those matters are resolved.
Published on 20 june
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