Badlapur Case: Maharashtra Govt Rolls Out Strict School Safety Norms, CCTV Now Mandatory
Mumbai, 3rd August 2026: In the wake of the Badlapur school sexual assault case that sparked statewide outrage, the Maharashtra government has announced a series of stringent measures aimed at strengthening the safety of students in educational institutions. Among the key directives, the installation of CCTV cameras has been made mandatory in all schools, while educational institutions have also been asked to tighten staff verification and emergency response mechanisms.
The directives were issued by Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who instructed authorities to implement comprehensive safety measures for women and children across schools and colleges in the Mumbai Suburban district. Stressing that crimes against women and children remain a matter of serious concern, the minister said educational institutions from kindergarten to postgraduate level must adopt stricter safety protocols to prevent such incidents.
As part of the new guidelines, schools have been directed to install CCTV cameras across their premises, excluding washrooms, and ensure the surveillance systems remain functional through regular inspections. School principals and management committees will be responsible for reviewing CCTV footage at least three times every week and reporting any suspicious activity to the police immediately. Schools that fail to comply with the CCTV mandate could face action, including suspension of grants or cancellation of recognition.
The government has also made police verification of all teaching, non-teaching and sanitation staff mandatory. Schools must submit employee details and photographs to the local police station and ensure thorough background checks before appointments.
Additionally, only female sanitation workers should clean washrooms used by minor girls, while a female staff member must remain stationed outside girls’ washrooms during school hours. Female attendants have also been made mandatory in school buses, taxis and vans transporting students.
To further improve student safety, complaint boxes will be installed in schools, while awareness about emergency helplines will be increased through posters displayed across campuses. Schools have also been directed to constitute committees of female parents that will meet regularly to discuss issues related to the safety and well-being of girl students. Self-defence training for girls is set to begin from September 1 in schools, colleges and Industrial Training Institutes across the state.
The fresh measures come days after the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten students at a school in Badlapur triggered widespread protests across Maharashtra, prompting the state government to introduce stricter safety norms for educational institutions.
