Mumbai News: Pydhonie Girls School Responds To CCTV Row, Says Surveillance Active For Years

After allegations that the historic Cummo Jaffer Suleman Girls High School in Pydhonie did not have CCTV cameras, the institution has clarified that the surveillance equipment has been operational for more than a decade.

The issue had caused a furore in the local community and Amin Patel, Member of the Legislative Assembly,  raised the issue in the assembly. He said that a girl from the sixth or seventh class told him that she was scared as the CCTV surveillance in the school premises was not working. 

When the issue was raised in the assembly, Muslim leaders in the area accused Patel of defaming a reputed institution. The School was set up in 1936 by a Cutchi Memon businessman and philanthropist, Haji Karim Suleman alias Cummo Seth as an institution to provide formal education to Muslim girls.

The school denied that the CCTV equipment was not functioning. The institution has three principals for each section. One principal said the school has 28 cameras, including three outside the school. "Every entry and exit, every classroom is under surveillance. The equipment has been working for the last 13 years. Teachers can watch the CCTV footage on their phones. The allegations are defamatory," said one of the principals.

Former Congress MLA, Yusuf Abrahani who has joined the Samajwadi Party, who accused Patel of defaming a respected institution, said that he is familiar with the area where the school is located.

"I visited the school after the allegations were made. The CCTVs have been there for the last 13 years. When we went to the school to inquire, we were told that some local Congress workers had asked for permission to  cook kichda in the premises for distribution during Muharram. They school refused permission, saying that it was a girls school. They spread lies about the absence of CCTVs and mislead Patel into raising the issue at the assembly session," said Abrahani.

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Patel later said he was misunderstood and added that he will visit the school next week to clarify things. "I visited the school and met the teachers. It was a good meeting. I was told that the CCTVs have been there for nearly 15 years. I am visiting the school again next week," Patel added.

Abrahani said that the school has already suffered damage from the false allegations. "The allegations were defamatory and derogatory. I thought it was my duty to tell the truth," Abrahani added. "But the matter is settled now."