Can My Neighbours have CCTV Pointing at My House? - Explore Important Judgments

In recent years, CCTV surveillance cameras are not confined to public places like hospitals and educational institutions. CCTV cameras installed outside private households are common in the neighbourhood, for security cannot be compromised. However, what happens when the neighbour's camera supposed to be installed for their own security peeps through your bedroom window while you're sleeping? This article seeks to explore the legality of the CCTV camera pointing at neighbour's house.  

But first, let's understand the the very basic principle of privacy, which the arguments begin with. 

Right To Privacy against Neighbours 

In each and every case, argument, Court order, etc., the one aspect at the centre to decide the question of "Can my neighbours have CCTV pointing at my house?" is the right to privacy. In the case of K. S. Puttaswamy (Retired) And Another vs Union Of India And Others, the Supreme Court recognized the right to privacy as a fundamental right. It may be noted that the Apex Court was not looking into a CCTV surveillance within neighbourhood, but the principle decided is wide enough to cover all aspects of privacy. The right to privacy is the fundamental right of an individual to be free from unwarranted intrusion, surveillance, or exposure, and to control their own personal information, body, and private life. 

When we talk about CCTV camera pointed at a neighbour's house, it may cover the entrance, it may cover the balcony, or may also snoop into the windows of living rooms or even the bedrooms. A person in their house is expects some sort of privacy to be looked at by the outsiders when they approve of it. Courts also consider this aspect while deciding questions of validity of CCTV cameras of pointing at another person's house within the neighbourhood. Given below are a few of those cases decided by various High Courts. 

Judgments on CCTV Camera and Neighbour Privacy 

Yogendra Maurya v. State of UP (2026) 

The Allahabad High Court addressed a violation of privacy wherein the petitioner was aggrieved by the positioning of a CCTV camera by his neighbour, as it exposes the entry to and exit from his house and interferes with the privacy of persons visiting his house or leaving the same. The Bench observed that " no private CCTV camera can be installed and positioned in such a manner as to interfere with the privacy of a neighbour." 

The Court directed the petitioner to file an application before the District Magistrate, who in turn was directed to consider and decide the application within a month. 

Sivasankaran @ Sankarankutty vs State Of Kerala (2026) 

The central issue in this case was the installation of a CCTV camera with a searchlight, positioned in such a manner as to snoop into the residential house and property of the petitioners, infringing their right to privacy. The Bench concurred with the findings in 2024 CaseBase(KER) 7227 to uphold the petitioner's right to privacy against the neighbour's CCTV cameras. 

Shuvendra Mullick vs Indranil Mullick And Others (2025 CaseBase(CAL) 1309) 

Does installation of CCTV cameras within residential portion of a dwelling house, without consent of a co-trustee, constitute a violation of their right to privacy and their right to free enjoyment of their property? The Calcutta High Court considered the question to conclude that installation and operation of CCTV cameras inside residential portion without co-trustee's consent restricts his right to free enjoyment of property and infringes his right to privacy.  

Agnes Michale vs Cheranelloor Grama Panchayath (2024 CaseBase(KER) 7227) 

In this case, the Kerala High Court was dealing with a petition against a neighbour intruding into the petitioner's privacy, by installing CCTV Camera facing her house and property. The High Court directed the authorities to find out if the CCTV camera was installed in public place, which would be unlawful, and sought the authorities to take necessary action in terms of the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act. The Bench ruled that under the guise of installing surveillance Camera, snooping into the affairs of neighbours shall not be permitted. 

Observation on CCTV Camera Facing Neighbour's Property 

An important legal distinction has been made by the Courts while deciding the initial question - "Can my neighbours have CCTV pointing at my house?". Merely installing a CCTV camera facing a neighbour's property is not necessarily unlawful. The critical questions include: 

• Does the camera capture private portions such as bedrooms, balconies, courtyards or internal entrances? 
• Does it continuously monitor the movement of people entering and leaving the neighbour's house? 
• Is the camera positioned to secure the owner's premises, or does its angle unnecessarily capture the neighbour's private space? 
• Is there a legitimate security justification? 
• Can the same security objective be achieved by adjusting the camera angle or using privacy masking? 

The distinction between recording a public road and recording private residential spaces is particularly important.