- This topic has 17 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 1 year, 1 month ago by
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SHey folks,
So our government college got a new principal in December last year, and she has tried to change a lot of things ever since, recently we found out she’s enabled the audio recording of CCTV cameras all over the place. These are in canteens, corridors, and even the playground.
What’s worse is she reportedly keeps monitoring them herself throughout the day. No formal announcement, no consent, no policy shared with students. It’s created this weird, paranoid vibe on campus—people are scared to talk casually, even in the open.
Is this even legal? Aren’t there privacy laws in India that protect us against this kind of constant audio surveillance, especially in public spaces like a college canteen where students don’t just talk about academics but personal stuff as well.
Has anyone dealt with something similar? Are we overreacting or is this actually a violation of our rights?
Appreciate any legal insight or even just advice from fellow students who’ve faced something like this.
Thanks!
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CMany Many cases were filed on this in the past and every single case including a public interest litigation is straight away denied and cancelled by Delhi High Court… Yes it’s legal to record you… yes it’s legal to place cameras in canteen… canteens don’t come under public spaces as the entire college or school is considered a single private area… although if you argue canteen as semi public space.. it is still 100% legal to monitor you unless the camera is not clearly visible and hidden without any signage… You can technically file a case saying college didn’t inform students and parents about the cameras as they should actually but still in the court the claim will be rejected because if high court can’t do anything then i don’t think anything will happen now because judges usually check past cases
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SThanks for this information.
Also I understand if it were just the video, but what about the voice recording? The cameras in our canteen apparently records the voice as well.
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LMonitoring students’ conversations in informal spaces like canteens and playgrounds crosses a line. It’s not overreacting to be concerned about privacy, everyone deserves to feel safe and free to speak in a college environment. Worth raising with student reps or even a legal aid cell if your college has one.
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KNot a lawyer.
Out of curiosity, is there any positive at all?
I hear the paranoid vibe, people scared to talk casually – but is there a reduction in cases of bullying, ragging, eve-teasing, smoking and drinking?
Assuming there are no real anti-social elements planning riots/hit jobs/heists or insurgents etc …
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SIt feels she’s just trying to establish her authority, even changed the uniform of UG, IG and PG students. On top of that, she now doesn’t allow the P.G students to leave the college premises, if they do then they are not allowed back in the premises.
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M*Not a lawyer.*
Are you sure the cameras are audio enabled? It could just be a rumor deliberately spread by the principal to keep everyone on their toes.
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SYes, the audio is enabled. We have confirmed it twice. A teacher told us about it, but that was a camera at the main gate of the college. So, we just brushed it off, as we thought it was okay since that is outside the premises. But today, we found out that teachers were looking for some students who were discussing something yesterday in the canteen. It seems their conversation was heard by the Principal.
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