Agartala: The Tripura government has made it compulsory for all private schools across the state to install CCTV cameras, emphasizing enhanced safety measures for students.
The directive was disclosed in an affidavit submitted to the Tripura High Court on May 8, 2025, during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning school security.
The affidavit mandates that all private institutions must install surveillance systems at entry and exit points, along with other key areas within school campuses.
According to the state’s submission, a majority of the 484 private schools have complied, while 37 institutions, citing financial hardship, assured authorities that installation would be completed soon. The High Court division bench, led by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Biswajit Palit, is overseeing the PIL filed by advocate Kundan Pandey, with Senior Advocate Somik Deb serving as Amicus Curiae. The state is being represented by Advocate General Shaktimoy Chakraborty and Pinki Chakraborty.
During an April 28 meeting at Nazrul Kalakhetra in Agartala, school representatives were also instructed on additional requirements, including clean drinking water, gender-segregated toilets, and anti-drug measures. The affidavit confirmed that all private schools now provide clean drinking water and functional toilets, although only 334 of the 484 invited schools attended the session. Officials have been directed to follow up with the 116 schools that were absent.
Progress has varied across districts. Full compliance has been achieved in Sepahijala, Khowai, Gomati, Unakoti, and Dhalai. In West Tripura, 85 of 103 schools have installed CCTV systems, while South Tripura and North Tripura are lagging, with seven and twelve schools yet to comply, respectively.
A government memorandum issued on April 7, 2025, instructed District Education Officers to withhold recommendations for recognition or upgrades for any school failing to meet the CCTV requirement. Non-compliant schools also risk cancellation of their UDISE codes and official recognition.
On the government school front, the state reported that out of 4,220 institutions, 610 have already undergone repairs, while 178 more are scheduled for renovation using Samagra Shiksha funds once they are released.
The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for the second week of August 2025, by which time the government is expected to submit a comprehensive update on the status of private, aided, and government-run schools across the state.
Read More: Harvard’s Global Enrolment Under Trump’s Scanner: Federal Funds in Focus