MP High Court defers hearing on e-attendance of teachers
The legal battle of teachers against the education department’s order of introducing e-attendance through mobile phones seems to be log-jammed.
The legal battle of teachers against the education department’s order of introducing e-attendance through mobile phones seems to be log-jammed.
After hearing arguments and counter arguments for about an hour on Monday, the Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court posted the matter to a later date.
The bench comprising Justice PK Jaiswal and Justice DK Paliwal admitted the petition for amending or quashing the department’s order, as it was passed while the case was pending in court.
Advocate Abhinav Dhanodkar, the counsel pleading for teachers said, “There are alternative systems for making e-attendance, then why resort to mobile technology when it can lead to breach of privacy?”
“It isn’t rationale to ask teachers to carry a GPS-enabled smartphone or to submit their personal mobile number for introducing the system of electronic attendance,” said Dhanodkar. A biometric fingerprint analysing system costs merely `3,200 and it also would serve the purpose, he added.
The education department has re-issued the orders on November 29, 2014, while the case was pending for decision in high court. Dhanodkar said, “We sought permission for amending or quashing the education department’s order.”
The teachers’ association, especially female teachers are opposing the orders, as, in their opinion, it could make them vulnerable to stalking by officers.