A Bombay High Court-appointed committee has recommended mandatory CCTV cameras, staff character verification, and stricter safety protocols in schools following the Badlapur sexual abuse case, where two minor girls were assaulted inside a school toilet.

The report, submitted Wednesday, was prepared by a panel led by two former High Court judges and includes measures aimed at enhancing child safety across all educational institutions in Maharashtra. The committee’s key recommendations include:

• Mandatory CCTV cameras in schools, with footage stored for at least one month to ensure accountability.
• Strict character verification of all school staff, with immediate termination for those found with a criminal background.
• Schools taking full responsibility for the safe transportation of students to and from school.
• Mandatory training for students on personal safety, including interactive sessions on distinguishing between “good touch” and “bad touch”.
• Raising awareness about cybercrimes, online threats, and digital safety measures for children.
• Prominently displaying the 1098 child helpline number in classrooms, restrooms, and other key areas.

The panel stressed that child safety should be a priority for all educational institutions and called for regular safety audits to assess compliance with these guidelines. It also recommended that schools implement grievance redressal mechanisms where students can report misconduct or unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale has directed the state government to review the report and respond with an action plan within two weeks.

The case gained national attention after two five-year-old girls were sexually assaulted by a male attendant inside their school’s toilet in August last year. Following public outrage, the accused was arrested but later killed in an alleged police encounter in September.

The Bombay High Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident and ordered the formation of an expert committee to review safety protocols in schools and recommend preventive measures.

The state government is now required to submit its response to the court, outlining how it plans to implement the recommendations. The court will closely monitor compliance, ensuring that schools follow these new protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Education and child rights activists have welcomed the report, urging the state to implement these measures swiftly to protect children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The next hearing is expected to determine further actions based on the government’s response.

Source: PTI

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