HHRC orders CCTV checks in Haryana school buses over student safety lapses

Chandigarh: Taking serious note of lapses in student safety measures, the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has directed authorities across the state to ensure installation and proper functioning of CCTV cameras in school buses under the govt's "Surakshit School Vahan Policy".Hearing a suo motu case linked to an alleged corporal punishment incident at a school in Nuh district, the commission expressed concern over contradictory reports submitted by the school management and the district education officer regarding CCTV facilities in school buses and on campus.The Bench comprising Justice Lalit Batra, Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia observed that during inspection, only two buses were found on the campus, with one lacking a CCTV camera and the other unable to establish whether its camera was functional or recording activities. However, the school management claimed all six buses were fitted with CCTV cameras and recordings were preserved.Dissatisfied with the discrepancies, the commission ordered a fresh inspection of all school buses, classrooms and key areas of the institution to verify the status of surveillance systems.The HHRC also directed the superintendent of police, Nuh, to re-examine the alleged assault case involving a seven-year-old Class III student who was reportedly beaten by a teacher in Aug 2025.Reiterating that student safety was a joint responsibility of schools and the administration, the commission instructed district and sub-divisional committees across Haryana to conduct regular inspections of school vehicles and submit compliance reports before the next hearing on July 30, 2026.