Friday 21 October 2016

Installation of CCTV in Staff room and Office- Highly objectionable.


Ref.No. KEVINTSA/2/15-16/CCTV/Policy Matter/            Date: 20.09.2016
To
The Jt. Commissioner (Admn.)                                 e-mail only
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan
New Delhi-110016.

Sub.: Installation of CCTV in Office.
Ref.: KVS HQ Letter on installation of CCTV in KVS No.11029/16/2014-KVS/Acad/Student’s Safety/ AEO(P)/ dated by 22.12.2014.
Sir,
          May I have the honour to draw your kind attention towards an important issue which is drawing our attention from couple of months. It has been intimated by some of the members that Principals of some KVs of Hyderabad Region (KV 2 Golconda and few others) and even in your esteemed office CCTV Camera has been installed for the surveillance of non-teaching staffs working in the office. In KVS CCTV camera has been instructed to be purchased exclusively for ensuring the safety of the students (under SOP).The above referred order issued by Jt. Commissioner (Acad.) , KVS HQ  on 22.12.2014.
       But it is a really sorry state of affair that many major stake holders in KVS holding the post of Principal are either unaware of CCS (Conduct) Rules GID (1) to be read under Rule 3(c) and also unaware of the verdict given by Hon’ble CAT Ernakulam regarding installing CCTV camera in Office. This is notwithstanding the fact that the observations of the Hon’ble CAT and Hon’ble High Court of Kerala in the matter, inter alia, of installation of CCTVs at KV I, Calicut and also several decisions of the Hon’ble Courts have held that the fundamental rights/privacy of an individual, including at place of work cannot be breached. DDO may be the prime person to take decisions for a limited period of time but cannot work as owner of the Vidyalaya. But most of the cases the DDOs treated themselves as owner and issue misleading instructions or inappropriate actions. In case he is bothered about the proper functioning of the Vidyalaya administration he should learn to obey KVS order much more meticulously. In the instant case he has literally defied the instructions issued on CCTV by KVS HQ New Delhi.  It is not only objectionable but amounts to denying human rights for freedom.
It is thus requested to issue necessary instruction to the Principal, KV No.2 Golconda in particular who is under your esteemed control so that CCTV may not breach the Privacy of any staff members, specially non-teaching staffs including the female staffs, working in the office/vidyalaya. CCTV in KVS has been approved for the safety of the students and installing them to the Office and Staff rooms will certainly defeat the purpose narrated under SOP orders. It is also requested to this effect issued immediately for circulation of one and all and also the DVD recorders/Hard Discs seized immediately, if installed in back up of CCTV, to avoid any misuse, as the images captured by CCTV are information which may have to be provided to citizens under the provisions of RTI 2005.
It is thus humbly submitted to issue necessary instruction to remove CCTV from the Regional Office Hyderabad and KV No.2 Golconda for the sake of freedom of the staffs. KEVINTSA has full faith on your judicious decisions, which ought to be taken, on the issue raised.
                                                                             Yours faithfully

                                                                   [S.K.BISWAS]
                                                                   General Secretary
Copy for information to:
  1. Deputy Commissioner, KVS RO Hyderabad.-  As per KVS HQ letter under reference it is requested to direct the DDOs of KVs to use the fund and equipment for the purpose they have been purchased out of Student’s fund.
  2. Jt. Commissioner (Pers.), KVS HQ New Delhi – As the cases of complaints on installing of CCTV in Office and Staff rooms are increasing it is earnestly requested to issue comprehensive directives in this regard to avoid all these unneeded correspondences.
  3. Principal, KV No.2, Golconda – with an earnest request to remove the CCTV from the office and put the same for the safety of the students, for the purpose, which the same has been procured in the KV.
  4. Regional Secretary-Hyderabad, KEVINTSA –for information.

                                                                              General Secretary


Ref.No. KEVINTSA/2/15-16/CCTV/Policy Matter/            Date: 30.08.2016
To
The Deputy Commissioner                                        e-mail only
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan
Regional Office Hyderabad.

Sub.: Installation of CCTV in Office.
Ref.: KVS HQ Letter on installation of CCTV in KVS No.11029/16/2014-KVS/Acad/Student’s Safety/ AEO(P)/ dated by 22.12.2014.
Sir,
          May I have the honour to draw your kind attention towards an important issue which is drawing our attention from couple of months. It has been intimated by some of the members that Principals of some KVs of Hyderabad Region (KV 2 Golconda and few others) and even in your esteemed office CCTV Camera has been installed for the surveillance of non-teaching staffs working in the office. In KVS CCTV camera has been instructed to be purchased exclusively for ensuring the safety of the students (under SOP).The above referred order issued by Jt. Commissioner (Acad.) , KVS HQ  on 22.12.2014.
       But it is a really sorry state of affair that many major stake holders in KVS holding the post of Principal are either unaware of CCS (Conduct) Rules GID (1) to be read under Rule 3(c) and also unaware of the verdict given by Hon’ble CAT Ernakulam regarding installing CCTV camera in Office. This is notwithstanding the fact that the observations of the Hon’ble CAT and Hon’ble High Court of Kerala in the matter, inter alia, of installation of CCTVs at KV I, Calicut and also several decisions of the Hon’ble Courts have held that the fundamental rights/privacy of an individual, including at place of work cannot be breached. DDO may be the prime person to take decisions for a limited period of time but cannot work as owner of the Vidyalaya. But most of the cases the DDOs treated themselves as owner and issue misleading instructions or inappropriate actions. In case he is bothered about the proper functioning of the Vidyalaya administration he should learn to obey KVS order much more meticulously. In the instant case he has literally defied the instructions issued on CCTV by KVS HQ New Delhi.  It is not only objectionable but amounts to denying human rights for freedom.
It is thus requested to issue necessary instruction to the Principal, KV No.2 Golconda in particular who is under your esteemed control so that CCTV may not breach the Privacy of any staff members, specially non-teaching staffs including the female staffs, working in the office/vidyalaya. CCTV in KVS has been approved for the safety of the students and installing them to the Office and Staff rooms will certainly defeat the purpose narrated under SOP orders. It is also requested to this effect issued immediately for circulation of one and all and also the DVD recorders/Hard Discs seized immediately, if installed in back up of CCTV, to avoid any misuse, as the images captured by CCTV are information which may have to be provided to citizens under the provisions of RTI 2005.
It is thus humbly submitted to issue necessary instruction to remove CCTV from the Regional Office Hyderabad and KV No.2 Golconda for the sake of freedom of the staffs. KEVINTSA has full faith on your judicious decisions, which ought to be taken, on the issue raised.
                                                                             Yours faithfully

                                                                   [S.K.BISWAS]
                                                                   General Secretary
Copy for information to:
  1. Commissioner, KVS HQ New Delhi.-  As per KVS HQ letter under reference it is requested to direct the DDOs of KVs to use the fund and equipment for the purpose they have been purchased out of Student’s fund.
  2. Jt. Commissioner (Pers.), KVS HQ New Delhi – As the cases of complaints on installing of CCTV in Office and Staff rooms are increasing it is earnestly requested to issue comprehensive directives in this regard to avoid all these unneeded correspondences.
  3. Principal, KV No.2, Golconda – with an earnest request to remove the CCTV from the office and put the same for the safety of the students, for the purpose, which the same has been procured in the KV.
  4. Regional Secretary-Hyderabad, KEVINTSA –for information.


                                                                              General Secretary

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