No Entry Without Permission: Gujarat Bans Unauthorised Outsiders, Filming, and Streaming in All Schools Gandhinagar

n a major move to bolster student safety and data privacy, the Gujarat Education Department has banned unauthorized entry into school campuses across primary, secondary, and higher secondary educational institutions. The state government issued a comprehensive circular enforcing strict protocols against non-permitted visitors, unauthorized photography, audio-video recording, and live streaming within school premises.

The order invokes the legal principle of In Loco Parentis. Under this constitutional duty, the state assumes responsibility for the safety, dignity, privacy, and overall welfare of students while they are on school grounds. The directive relies on Article 21 of the Constitution of India—citing the landmark K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India Supreme Court judgment on privacy—along with school safety guidelines mandated by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

Strict Rules for Visitors and Official Filming

Under the newly issued regulations, external individuals must obtain prior written permission from the principal or head of the institution before entering school premises. The only exception applies to government officials performing authorized duties.

Key directives laid out in the official order include:

• Visitor Logs: Every visitor must enter their personal details into an official visitor register before stepping onto school grounds.

• Restricted Zone Access: Outsiders are barred from entering classrooms, laboratories, libraries, hostels, playgrounds, or washrooms unless accompanied by the principal, a designated teacher, or an authorized official.

• Strict Recording Ban: Filming, photography, audio recording, interviews, or live streaming involving students, teachers, or ongoing educational activities is strictly prohibited without written consent from the principal. Such permissions will only be granted for legitimate, official purposes.

• Data Privacy Protocols: School authorities must ensure that no personal data, photographs, or video footage of students are stored, published, or circulated in ways that compromise student privacy, dignity, or safety.

Immediate Police Action for Violators

The Education Department has instructed school administrators to act decisively against trespassers. If an unauthorized individual enters the campus, refuses to leave, attempts illegal photography or videography, or creates disruptions, school heads are instructed to contact local law enforcement immediately.

Principals must notify local police alongside the District Education Officer (DEO), District Primary Education Officer (DPEO), Administrative Officer, or Block Primary Education Officer to initiate prompt legal proceedings under applicable laws.