Parents challenge Election Commission circulars impacting school operations in Bombay High Court
Parents of students from a local school in Mumbai have approached the Bombay High Court to contest several circulars issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The circulars mandate the deployment of over 2,000 Education Department employees, primarily teachers, as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Polling Station Officers (PSOs) for the upcoming State Assembly Elections.
A division bench consisting of Justices Atul Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil acknowledged the parents' concerns, stating that the requirement for teachers to dedicate full-time hours during the week significantly disrupts school operations, particularly affecting ongoing examinations for various classes.
The petition, filed by senior advocate Gayatri Singh, references circulars issued on August 15, August 20, and subsequently on October 1 and 4, indicating that teachers will be required to miss school hours for election duties. The petition emphasizes that the absence of teachers during school hours hampers the regular conduct of classes, particularly at the Green Mumbai Primary School in Kurla. It argues that such orders violate students' right to education under Article 21-A of the Indian Constitution and the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
The court has directed the ECI to address the matter and provide a statement by Monday, October 21.
Additionally, the petition highlights the physically demanding nature of BLO duties, noting that teachers are often assigned to polling booths in distant constituencies. This exhaustion, the petition asserts, detracts from their primary responsibility of educating children.
The August 15 circular from the BMC's Education Department notified the deployment of 2,000 Education Department employees, largely teachers, as BLOs for three days a week. A subsequent circular on August 20 requisitioned four teachers from the Green Mumbai Primary School for similar duties. Further directives issued on October 1 and 4 required teachers to work full-time as PSOs, compelling them to forgo their school responsibilities in favor of election tasks.
A circular dated October 14 confirmed the full-time engagement of teachers for election duties. In light of these developments, the bench has appointed senior advocate Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to investigate the issue and present a statement to the court.
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Kolkata: Aliah University student found dead in hostel
Kolkata (PTI): A student of the state-run Aliah University in New Town near Kolkata was found dead in his hostel room, police said on Tuesday.
The body of Abdul Rahman (24), a resident of Malda, was found hanging from the ceiling in his hostel room around 7 pm on Monday, they said.
Rahman's classmates found the body when they entered his room after getting no response to repeated knocks on the doors. They then informed the police.
Officers of the Techno City police station went to the spot and sent the body to hospital for post-mortem examination, an official said.
An investigation has been started, they said, adding that the exact cause of the death will be known after the post-morterm examination.
