HC directs SEC to consider exempting teachers

Mumbai, Feb 28 (UNI) While allowing teachers and non-teaching staff of schools to work in the ensuing Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, The Bombay High Court today directed the State Election Comission to consider exempting teachers and non-teaching staff of schools in the State for future elections.

Caught between the SSC Board and State Election Commission's order, some teachers have approached the High Court through Maharashtra State Teachers Council, against notices issued to them by returning officers, as to why not initiate prosecution against them for remainig absent during election training programme.

The matter came up for hearing before division bench of Acting Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Justice V M Kanade. Though it is a constitutional duty of Election Comission to conduct elections, the Comission cannot force anybody like this. The court observed that the teachers are already overburdened by other duties like census, family planning etc and directed State Election Comission to consider exempting teachers and non-teaching staff of schools in the State, for future elections.

The court also restrained the election authorities from enforcing notices or initiating similar action.

UNI