(a) whether all the schools have been mandated to install CCTV cameras and if so, the
details thereof;
(b) the procedure followed by schools for background verification of the non-teaching
staff such as bus conductors or sweepers; and
(c) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to protect children from
physical or mental harassment in schools?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)
(a): “Education” being in the concurrent list and a majority of schools being under the
jurisdiction of the State Governments, the matter relating to installation of CCTV cameras in
schools is within the purview of the respective State Governments.
(b) & (c): The State Governments and Union Territory Administration have the direct
responsibility to ensure safety and security of students in schools under their territorial
control. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has issued guidelines in October,
2014 to all State/UT Governments for ensuring safety and security of school children,
including preventive mechanisms and procedures required to be put in place in the schooling
system alongwith relief and redressal strategies in case of any incident.
Following the judgement given in the Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 136 of 2017 and
Writ Petition (Civil) No. 874 of 2017 by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, this Department is in
the process of preparing guidelines for fixing the accountability of school management in the
matter of safety of children studying in schools.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has also suggested
authorities at different levels such as SMC, School Principal, School Management, Education
Department and Boards, to conduct safety audits in schools. NCPCR has developed a Manual
on safety and security of children in school setting.
Further, CBSE has issued a circular on 12.09.2017 directing the schools affiliated to
the Board to take measures such as psychometric evaluation of teaching and non-teaching
staff, safety audit of premises, CCTV monitoring, character antecedents verification, visitor
management, training of staff and setting up Internal Complaints Committee on sexual
harassment and Committees under Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO)
Act, 2012 etc. to ensure safety of children. For corporal punishment, the Board has
incorporated a provision in the Affiliation Bye-Laws of the Board for preventing cruelty
towards children. Under Rule 44.1 (d) of Affiliation Bye-Laws of the Board, the school
Managing Committee has been empowered to place an employee under suspension if “he/she
is charged with cruelty with any student or any employee of the school”. Rule 8.5 of
Affiliation Bye-Laws provides that the school should scrupulously observe prescription from
the Municipal Authority/ District Collector/ Transport Department regarding drinking water,
fire safety and transport precautions in the school. The Board has also issued comprehensive
guidelines for safe and effective use of internet and digital technologies including CCTV
cameras in schools and school buses.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan (KVS) has issued a circular on 22.12.2014 to all KVs
to take necessary precautions including installation of CCTVs etc. It is mandatory for all KVs
to implement School Safety policy 2016 prepared by National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA).
The detailed guidelines for ensuring safety and security of students in Jawahar
Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) have been issued from time to time including the guidelines for
installation of CCTV in all JNVs. School level complaint committees and cluster level
complaint committees are functional. At headquarter level moral turpitude cases are dealt by
summary trial committees. Action against the staff if found guilty, is taken and in serious
cases upto termination of services of staff is also taken as per the NVS notification dated
20.12.1993.
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