Video Cameras in the Staff Rooms of a College?

I used to work in an engineering college, teaching compulsory Economics and Management papers. I have ranted before about it:

They once held a meeting of the so called research committee, where the director (retired IIT Delhi faculty) asked us to do research. I asked them if they are willing to provide me a PC, as after teaching 20 classes a week, I need a PC on my desk rather than running to the common lab where the computers take 20 minutes to boot. They agreed in the meeting probably to save face. But later the so called dean (retired IIT KGP faculty) called me to his office, and told me that a computer costs 40,000 rupees and do I even knew to open and close a computer and asked me to demonstrate '‘how to close a window'’ on his 1988 model laptop!

Though I left that job in April 2005, I am still in touch with a few colleagues and students there. A few days back a student wrote to me saying the management has placed video cameras in the staff rooms and corridoors of the institute! I was quite taken aback. I thought I will ask a faculty friend. And to my horror she said they have placed video cameras inside each and every staff room! Can you imagine?

This place did not have a decent internet connection, they had no money to give a PC to their faculty members, they had no money to put AC in every staff room but they have the money to put the video cameras in faculty rooms. And I thought academics is one of the most liberal professions in the world.

I fail to understand why anyone would like to monitor their faculty members through video cameras. It makes no sense and leaves me horrified. I am so glad I left that job before all this happened.