Rajasthan Govt Schools: Outsiders Need Principal’s Approval For Entry; Photography, Videography And Live Streaming Restricted Under New Guidelines

The Rajasthan School Education Department has introduced new guidelines to regulate outsider entry into government schools, with a focus on safeguarding the safety, privacy and dignity of students and staff. Outsiders must obtain prior permission from the Principal or Head of Institution before entering the premises, with authorised officials exempt from this requirement. The new directives come after the CJP (Cockroach Janta Party) announced plans to inspect government schools allegedly in poor condition.

The circular, signed by the Director of Secondary Education, mandates that visitors record their details in a visitor register upon entry. Even with permission, outsiders cannot freely access areas where students are present, such as classrooms, laboratories, libraries, hostels, playgrounds, toilets or other student-accessed spaces. Visitors must be accompanied by the Principal, a teacher or authorised staff.

The regulations specifically address recording school activities, stipulating that photography, videography, interviews, audio recording and live streaming involving students, teachers or school-related events require prior written permission from the Principal. Such activities are permitted only for lawful purposes. Officials must ensure that student photographs, videos or personal information are not collected, published or circulated in a manner that infringes upon their privacy, dignity or safety.

School authorities are directed to take immediate action against violations, with the Principal required to inform the local police and District Education Officer if someone enters without permission, refuses to leave, attempts unauthorised recording or obstructs school operations. The move aligns with the government's responsibility to protect children in government schools, referencing the "In Loco Parentis" principle and Article 21 of the Constitution, which safeguards the right to life, dignity and privacy.

The guidelines draw from the Supreme Court's judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs. Union of India, recognizing privacy as a fundamental right, and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights' Child Safety Policy and Guidelines. The instructions have been disseminated to relevant officials for compliance and monitoring across Rajasthan.