Education dept asked to take a call on CCTV cameras in schools

Dismissing a plea seeking to install CCTV cameras in all public and private schools as well as other educational institutions, the first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice R Hemalatha, said, “It is for the authorities of the Education Directorate/Department to take a call on the feasibility of installation of CCTV cameras in all schools and educational institutions, taking into account all relevant factors, including the extent of the need for installation of CCTV cameras, whether it can eliminate abuse and harassment altogether, as also the expenditure involved.”

Referring to a communication by the Principal Secretary, School Education Department, that installation of CCTV cameras in all classrooms and in the school premises would be prohibitively expensive and in private schools the cost would ultimately be passed on to students, the bench said, “It is therefore doubtful whether such mandatory orders for installation of CCTV cameras in all educational institutions all over the State can be passed at the instance of one public spirited citizen, without consulting the body of guardians, who would have to pay higher fees for such facilities.” 

The first bench also held that expenditure on installation of CCTV cameras in every educational institution would have to be estimated and a decision taken as to whether incurring of such expenditure, in preference to improvement of infrastructure and acquisition of better equipment, library books etc., is for improvement of the standard of education in the institutions.

However, the bench noted that the dismissal of the petition will not prevent the authorities from taking any decision for the installation of CCTV cameras, if deemed expedient. The petitioner, M Kalaiselvi, president, Tamil Nadu Swadeshi Women Protection Association, on citing incidents of sexual harassment and other forms of harassment of school children, had sought orders directing the Education Department to install CCTVs in all private schools and other educational institutions within a time frame as fixed by the Court.