Delhi HC pulls up EC for deploying school teachers for BLO duties during SIR

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?” ANI quoted the chief justice saying.The court also questioned the Commission’s claim that teachers were serving as “volunteers”, pointing out that those refusing election duties could face disciplinary action.“Make a statement that this is voluntary, and we will dispose of the petition,” the Bench told the Commission.Appearing for the ECI, advocate Sanjay Vashishtha argued that the Special Intensive Revision exercise in Delhi was nearing completion and that only around 10 to 14 per cent of school teachers were eventually engaged for electoral roll revision work.He submitted that the commission derives its power to requisition staff from Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act and that such powers are exercised sparingly. Vashishtha also said teachers are assigned BLO duties only during holidays and non-teaching hours in line with the commission’s guidelines.The bench, however, questioned why teachers should have to give up their holidays for election work.“Somebody is not interested in your honorarium or compensation. Can these instructions issued by you be said to be mandatory? Can you say no, no, no, we are compensating, please come. Destroy their holidays? Don’t they need rest?” the court asked.The hearing comes days after the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Delhi, issued a circular on July 23 directing district election authorities to ensure that teachers’ academic responsibilities are not affected during the SIR exercise.