No LS poll duty for SSC, HSC teachers

Mumbai: Over 50,000 teachers of Class 10 and Class 12 in Maharashtra will no longer be enrolled for month long Lok Sabha election duties. But they will have to do one-day election duty, as it is compulsory for all government officials, said an election commission official.

Teachers’ associations and unions had requested the Election Commission not to give election duty to the teachers teaching standard 10 and 12 students. “We have not issued any circular. However, we have forwarded their request to all collector offices. Now, collectors will take a decision on it,” said joint chief electoral officer A.N. Walvi.

“We have received the teachers’ request letter through the election commission. We have not assigned election duty to any teacher. As per their request, we have excluded them from the DLO-ship, which is month or two month long duty. But every teacher will have to do one-day election duty. After the court’s order, it is compulsory for every teacher to do election duty,” said Shivajirao Jondhale, collector for Mumbai district. He also mentioned that MLC Kapil Patil, too, had requested not to give election duties to 10 ten and Class 12teachers.

“We have sent a letter to the election commission as well as the collector’s office. We have got an oral reply from the collector’s office that the 100 teachers who were appointed for month long election duty will not be required to do that duty now. But one day election duty is a constitutional duty which every teacher will have to do,” said member of Legislative council (MLC) Kapil Patil.

There are 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state and elections will be held in these constituencies on April 11, 18, 23 and 29.