CHANDIGARH, 28 February 2025 — The Punjab government informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday that artificial intelligence (AI)-based CCTV surveillance has been deployed in eight prisons across the state, with installation nearing completion in six more jails. The project is expected to be finished by May 2, 2025.
State counsel also reported that V-Kavach jammers have been set up in Bathinda Central Jail and are being installed in 10 additional “sensitive” prisons.
Seeking more details, a division bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda directed the state to submit an affidavit specifying the number of prisoner calling system machines installed in each jail. The affidavit must also provide data on whether unauthorized mobile usage has declined and detail the number of mobile phones recovered in the past three months.
“The affidavit shall state the number of prisoner calling system machines installed in the jails, jail-wise, and also indicate any reduction in unauthorized mobile use,” the bench said.
Meanwhile, Special DGP (Retd.) Prabodh Kumar, head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), informed the court that the probe into jail security concerns is ongoing and that a status report will be submitted by the next hearing on March 19, 2025.
