By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
The short answer
Yes, for many businesses. The Karnataka Public Safety (Measures) Enforcement Act, 2017 requires "establishments" where large numbers of people gather to install public-safety measures, including CCTV at entry and exit points, common areas and parking, and to keep the recordings for 30 days. Bengaluru police have used the Act in enforcement drives, most visibly for restaurants, pubs, hotels and other crowded venues.
This article is a plain-English summary to help you plan, not legal advice. For your specific premises, check with the jurisdictional police station or your legal advisor.
Who the Act applies to
The Act defines an "establishment" as a place frequented by a large number of people with a likelihood of a public gathering of a hundred people or more at a time. Press reports and industry bodies describe the threshold as more than 100 people at a time or more than 500 people in a day. The definition covers commercial, industrial, religious, educational and healthcare places, transport hubs and sports complexes, along with any other places the government notifies.
| Likely covered | Examples |
|---|---|
| Commercial | Malls, large shops and showrooms, supermarkets, restaurants, pubs, hotels, cinemas |
| Industrial | Factories and units with large workforces |
| Educational | Schools, colleges and coaching centres with large student numbers |
| Healthcare | Hospitals and large clinics |
| Religious and public | Places of worship, event venues, sports complexes, transport hubs |
What must be installed
- Access control and CCTV at entry and exit points.
- CCTV covering common public places within the premises.
- CCTV covering parking areas.
- Recording equipment able to store at least 30 days of footage.
The 30-day rule and police access
Footage must be stored properly for 30 days (or any period the government notifies) and handed over when the jurisdictional Inspector of Police asks for it. In practice, that means a recorder with enough hard-disk capacity for every camera for at least 30 days, correct date and time settings, and someone on site who knows how to export clips. The Rules also provide forms for informing the police about the establishment and for periodic returns.
Work out storage for 30 days →Penalties
According to the Act and press coverage of enforcement:
- Late filing of returns: a fine of Rs 2,000 the first time and Rs 4,000 after that.
- Not complying after a show-cause notice: a compounding fee of Rs 5,000 for the first month and Rs 10,000 for the second.
- Continued default: the premises can be temporarily sealed (religious and educational institutions are exempt from sealing), and licences can be cancelled.
Bengaluru police and private cameras
Bengaluru police rely heavily on private CCTV in investigations. By April 2025, according to press reports, they had geotagged over 5.3 lakh cameras in the city, including about 3.5 lakh owned by private individuals and establishments facing public places, so investigators can quickly find cameras near a crime scene. Cameras that face your entrance and the road outside can help the police — and your own business — when something happens nearby.
A compliance checklist for your premises
- Cameras at every public entry and exit, positioned to identify faces.
- Coverage of lobbies, billing and waiting areas, corridors and other common areas.
- Parking areas and the approach to the building covered.
- Recorder with at least 30 days of storage for all cameras, on power backup.
- Accurate date and time, synchronised automatically.
- A named person who can export footage for the police.
- CCTV notices displayed; no cameras in toilets or changing areas.
- An AMC or routine check so the system keeps meeting the 30-day requirement.
Quick answers
Is CCTV mandatory for shops in Bangalore?+
It is mandatory for establishments covered by the Karnataka Public Safety Act — broadly, places where 100 or more people gather at a time. Small shops below that may not be covered, but CCTV is still strongly advisable.
How long must CCTV footage be kept in Karnataka?+
Covered establishments must store footage for 30 days, or any other period the government notifies, and produce it when the police ask.
What is the fine for not installing CCTV in Karnataka?+
After a notice, a compounding fee of Rs 5,000 for the first month and Rs 10,000 for the second, with possible sealing of premises for continued default.
Does the Act apply to factories?+
Industrial establishments are included in the definition, so factories with large numbers of people on site are likely to be covered. Confirm with the local police.