The Madras High Court has directed a Chennai-based company to remove immediately the CCTV camera installed in the male restroom.
The restroom was a private area where there were no factory fixtures. No production was going on there. Hence, the employer viewing this channel was not warranted.
Justice C.S.Karnan was allowing a petition by the Raptakos Brett Employees Union, Guindy, for a direction to remove the CCTV camera from the restroom. The union, represented by its general secretary, alleged that the management was always fighting with the employees.
The company “coerced workers to accept” its own terms and conditions of service. The latest was installing CCTV everywhere in the factory to check whether the staff were working or idling away their time. In October 2013, the company fixed the cameras in the male restroom despite protests by workers.
The Deputy Commissioner of Labour directed the company to remove the camera , but it was not done.
Company counsel submitted that the cameras had been fixed all over the factory for the convenience of the Managing Director to monitor the same even when he was out of station Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, arguments and perusing the Deputy Commissioner of Labour’s order, Mr.Justice Karnan ordered that the camera be removed .
Counsel submitted that the cameras had been fixed for the convenience
of the MD
