Conflicting EC Orders on Teacher Duties for Voter Roll Revision in Maharashtra Raise Concerns

The Election Commission of Maharashtra has issued two letters within a week regarding the duties of school teachers serving as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. The first letter, dated June 27, stated that teachers should be assigned BLO work only during non-teaching hours or holidays. The second letter, dated July 3, requested the State Education Department to minimise teaching hours for BLO teachers and to ensure these hours are continuous, with non-BLO teachers assisting in their work.

Educationists and teacher organisations have pointed out an apparent contradiction between the two directives. The first order, citing the Right to Education Act, 2009, and various court judgments, mandates that BLO duties must not interfere with teaching. The second order, however, effectively reduces teaching time for BLO teachers, which critics argue undermines the first directive.

Vasant Kalpande, former Director of Primary Education in Maharashtra, stated, 'There is a definite contradiction. With many teacher vacancies, reducing teaching hours will only increase the load on other teachers.' Tanaji Mane, President of the Maharashtra State Secondary and Higher Secondary School Headmaster’s Association, questioned, 'One letter says BLO duty should not be during school hours; the next says reduce school hours. Is the government’s policy that teachers should have no time to teach?'

Manohar Parkar, Deputy Secretary and Joint Chief Electoral Officer, defended the orders, arguing they are not contradictory. 'The Supreme Court says work should not be given during teaching hours. We requested that teaching hours be continuous and as few as possible for one month until the SIR ends. This is not an order but a request to the Education Department,' he explained.

The SIR involves door-to-door distribution of enumeration forms by BLOs and will continue until July 29. Teacher organisations have expressed concern over the impact on students, particularly in Marathi-medium schools, which they say are already losing enrolments to English-medium institutions.

The Maharashtra Election Commission maintains that the second letter aims to reduce the workload on BLO teachers, not to compromise education. However, teacher bodies remain unconvinced, citing the practical difficulties of implementing both directives simultaneously.