CCTVs installation underway at strategic positions in schools: Tripura govt tells HC

The Tripura government has submitted before the state High Court that it is in the process of addressing the safety concerns of children by installing CCTVs at strategic positions in schools.

The government made this statement while the Tripura High Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to ensure safety and security measures in schools across the state.

The PIL was field by Advocate Kundan Pandey and heard by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Biswajit Palit.

The hearing indicates that in eight districts of Tripura - comprising 4905 schools, only 218 schools have CCTV cameras installed. 

“Further averments as to the information sought by the petitioner-in-person under RTI have been delineated 0 of the additional counter-affidavit. Statement has also been made that under the new Education Policy, 2020, guidelines on school safety and security has been shared by the District Education Officers concerned with all the stake holders’ school management in the matter of safety and security of the children studying in the school”, the high court order reads.

In the order, it was mentioned that during the hearing Learned Government Advocate S.M. Chakraborti and Kohinoor N. Bhattacharya has also conveyed that there are various categories of children identified from the weaker sections under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 in respect of whom notification dated July 15 of 2022 has been issued by the State to provide them the legal entitlements.

“Learned Government Advocate submits that the government is in process of ensuring that safety concerns of the children by installation of CCTV’s at vantage positions in the school are taken up and installed in a phased manner. However, he submits that so far as the privately managed schools are concerned, the State has issued guidelines as per the National Education Policy, 2020. He submits that the deliberation would be held with the State Officials on the issue of installation of CCTV cameras by the privately managed schools”, the order reads.

Learned Advocate General has also appeared and submitted that the matter would be taken up with the competent authority under the state.

However the next hearing would be held on February 6, 2025.