'You do whatever you like?' Delhi HC pulls up EC for deploying teachers for SIR duties
The Delhi High Court has challenged the Election Commission's practice of deploying school teachers for electoral roll revision duties. The court questioned the legal authority behind the mandate and whether the participation of teachers can truly be considered voluntary.
Why it matters
The case addresses the balance between administrative election requirements and the professional rights of educators in India.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Friday questioned the Election Commission (EC) over deploying school teachers as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the national capital, asking under what legal authority teachers were being compelled to carry out election work.Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the deployment of government, municipal and government-aided school teachers for BLO and SIR duties, a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia sought an explanation from the poll body on the legal basis for its decision.During the hearing, the bench expressed reservations over the commission's reliance on Article 324 of the Constitution. "Taking shade of Article 324, you do whatever you like?"
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