The Gujarat government has issued a new circular regulating the entry of outsiders into government schools, making prior written permission from the principal mandatory for visitors. The circular also requires every visitor to enter their details in the school’s visitor register before entering the premises.The state Education Department has issued detailed guidelines to ensure the safety, security, privacy and well-being of students in primary, secondary and higher secondary educational institutions.

Only government officials duly authorised to perform their official duties will be exempt from the requirement of obtaining prior written permission.The circular emphasises that the state government has a special responsibility towards children studying in government schools under the principle of “In Loco Parentis”, which means acting in the place of a parent.It also refers to Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, dignity and privacy, and the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in KS Puttaswamy (Retd) vs Union of India, which recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right. The guidelines also refer to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) school safety policy and guidelines.

PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION MANDATORYAccording to the circular, no outsider will be allowed to enter school premises without prior written permission from the principal or head of the institution. Every visitor must record their details in the visitor register before entering the premises.Entry into classrooms, laboratories, libraries, hostels, playgrounds, toilets and other areas where student activities are taking place will be permitted only with prior written approval from the principal or head of the institution and in the company of the principal, a schoolteacher or an authorised school official.PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING RESTRICTED The circular prohibits photography, videography, interviews, audio recording and live streaming involving students, teachers or school activities without the principal’s prior written permission.

Such activities may be approved only for lawful purposes.School authorities must ensure that photographs, videos or personal information of students are not collected, published or circulated in a manner that compromises their privacy, dignity or safety.Visitors will also be prohibited from collecting a child’s personal information or publishing the child’s identity or photograph without prior written permission from the principal, particularly where such activities are not in the child’s best interests or could affect their safety, dignity or privacy.ACTION AGAINST UNAUTHORISED ENTRYIf any person enters the school without permission, refuses to leave the premises, attempts unauthorised photography or videography, or disrupts school operations, the principal must immediately inform the local police and the concerned District Education Officer, District Primary Education Officer, administrative officer or Taluka Primary Education Officer.The principal or head of the institution will also have the authority to deny entry to visitors whose presence could affect the school’s security, privacy, discipline or academic environment. School authorities may direct any outsider to leave the premises and seek assistance from the local police whenever necessary.STRICT IMPLEMENTATION OF GUIDELINESAll inspection officers have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the circular.

Depending on the facts and circumstances of a case, action may be initiated under applicable laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Information Technology Act, 2000, and other relevant laws.- Ends