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Crime
Court Slams Police for Failing to Properly Certify CCTV Footage
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 13 Nov 2026, 06:38 AM
👁 15
A court has criticized police for their lack of familiarity with the Evidence Act, specifically highlighting their failure to properly certify CCTV footage submitted as evidence.
A court in India has issued a sharp observation regarding the procedural lapses committed by the police in handling digital evidence. The bench flagged a specific failure in the proper certification of CCTV footage, which is a mandatory requirement under the Indian Evidence Act for such material to be admissible in court.
The judge noted that the police officers appear to be 'not conversant' with the provisions of the Evidence Act, leading to technical deficiencies in the submission of the video evidence. This oversight raises questions about the standard operating procedures followed by law enforcement agencies when collecting and presenting digital proof in criminal cases.
Proper certification ensures the integrity and authenticity of the footage, preventing any allegations of tampering or fabrication. By failing to adhere to these legal norms, the police have inadvertently weakened the evidentiary value of the material presented before the court.
The court's remark serves as a directive for law enforcement to undergo better training on legal procedures regarding digital evidence. It underscores the necessity for police to align their investigative methods with statutory requirements to ensure that evidence stands up to judicial scrutiny.
The judge noted that the police officers appear to be 'not conversant' with the provisions of the Evidence Act, leading to technical deficiencies in the submission of the video evidence. This oversight raises questions about the standard operating procedures followed by law enforcement agencies when collecting and presenting digital proof in criminal cases.
Proper certification ensures the integrity and authenticity of the footage, preventing any allegations of tampering or fabrication. By failing to adhere to these legal norms, the police have inadvertently weakened the evidentiary value of the material presented before the court.
The court's remark serves as a directive for law enforcement to undergo better training on legal procedures regarding digital evidence. It underscores the necessity for police to align their investigative methods with statutory requirements to ensure that evidence stands up to judicial scrutiny.