SC Issues Notice To Delhi Govt. On Law Student's Plea Against Installation Of CCTV Cameras In Classrooms

A Supreme Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Friday issued notice to Delhi government on a petition against the decision of Delhi Government to install CCTV cameras in the classrooms and also the decision to provide live feed to parents.

The petition was filed by Amber Tickoo, a third-year law student, saying that students in the adolescent age would come under psychological pressure and get traumatized.

She has challenged the Delhi government decision on September 11, 2017,for installation of CCTV Cameras in classrooms and decision of December 1, 2017,providing live feed to parents from cameras installed in schools.

"That the impugned decision of installation of CCTV Cameras in school was taken in an emergency meeting convened on 11.09.2017 by the Minister of Education purportedly on the ground of 'incident of child abuse in the schools of Delhi/NCR', wherein it was decided that installation of CCTV cameras in all the schools of Delhi –run by Respondent No. 1, local bodies or aided/recognized by them will be mandatory"

She contended that the said decision was taken without undertaking any research/study into the ramifications of such installations, without consideration of the provision of data security as also the psychological impact of the said installations on young children. Further, no consent of the parents, or the teachers was considered before taking the impugned decision.

"The said installation of CCTV cameras and providing live feed of the same to anyone with a user id and password jeopardizes the safety and security of young girls as also the female teachers and shall directly give rise to the incidents of stalking and voyeurism".

Advocate Jai Dehadrai assisted by Advocate Srishti Kumar argued that 1.5 lakh CCTV cameras will provide live streaming from classrooms. The children would be under psychological pressure.

The petition was filed through Manisha Ambwani, Advocate-on-Record.

The petitioner contends that" the government's decision is in direct contravention of the Judgment of Supreme Court in Justice Puttaswamy (Retd.) & Anr. v. Union of India, which has unequivocally upheld Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

"Further, the said decision is also in violation of the case of Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association and Anr v. State of Maharashtra, (W.P. (Civil) No. 576 of 2016) wherein installation of CCTVs has been held as violative of Right to Privacy," states the petitioner.