Delhi HC petition challenges Election Commission’s use of teachers for SIR, citing impact on school duties

A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) decision to stop teachers from carrying out their full-time duties in schools. The petition challenges the deployment of teachers for election work, which is directly linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, amid concerns that this work could affect regular classes in schools.

Challenging the Election Commission of India’s decision, Advocate Ashok Agarwal on his X account said that “Today we have filed a petition before the Delhi High Court against the ECI’s action of not allowing teachers to discharge their full-time duties in schools.” 

Meanwhile, directions for Assembly Constituency 65 (Seelampur) have been issued asking Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and supervisors to distribute SIR hearing notices to electors without asking school classes to intervene. The order has also set specific timings for teachers to carry out SIR-related work on working days.

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SIR work schedule for school teachers

According to the directions, BLOs and BLO Supervisors have to distribute SIR hearing notices to electors by visiting their respective addresses and also get the acknowledgements. The work should be done during holidays, gazetted holidays, and even non-teaching days.

Teachers working in morning or general-shift schools can do SIR-related work after completing the first half of their school hours during working days. Teachers who have evening-shift schools must complete the election-related work before the school opens during the first half of the day.

The order also gave directions to heads of schools and principals to make internal arrangements so that teaching in schools is not hampered. This will make sure that the deployment of teachers for the limited period required for SIR work will not disrupt classroom teaching.

BLOs and BLO Supervisors have also been asked to complete the distribution of hearing notices within the prescribed period. The directions will be enforced until the hearing is completed. The order has also issued a warning that non-compliance may lead to strict action. This was issued with the prior approval of the District Magistrate and District Election Officer (North East).

The directions have come after concerns were raised over the use of teachers for election-related duties. Agarwal’s petition has argued that teachers should be able to fulfill their full-time responsibilities in schools. Also, election duties must be managed in a way that does not affect regular teaching and classes in government schools.