State board urges poll body to exempt teachers from BLO duties

While municipal teachers are typically appointed as booth-level officers (BLOs) to discharge various electoral duties, this time, they point out, Class 10 and 12 exams are underway, clashing with duties relating to the pre-SIR process

MUMBAI: The state board has urged the election authorities to exempt municipal teachers assisting in the Class 10 and 12 examinations in Mumbai from work on updating the voters’ list ahead of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.

While municipal teachers are typically appointed as booth-level officers (BLOs) to discharge various electoral duties, this time, they point out, Class 10 and 12 exams are underway, clashing with duties relating to the pre-SIR process. (Photo by Santosh Kumar/ Hindustan Times)

While municipal teachers are typically appointed as booth-level officers (BLOs) to discharge various electoral duties, this time, they point out, Class 10 and 12 exams are underway, clashing with duties relating to the pre-SIR process.

The Mumbai division of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has raised the issue on behalf of the teachers. On February 26, Mumbai divisional secretary Jyotna Shinde-Pawar wrote to the state chief electoral officer (CEO), seeking exemption from BLO duties for teachers conducting the Class 10 Class 12 examinations.

To help update the electoral rolls, municipal teachers are expected to visit homes to update voter details, replace old photographs and verify basic information. In January, several training sessions were conducted by electoral registration officers in various assembly constituencies in Mumbai. However, many teachers could not attend these training sessions as examinations are underway.

As a result, the electoral registration officer from the Bandra assembly constituency sought to register a first information report (FIR) against 60-odd teachers. No police action has been taken so far but teachers’ organisations have objected to this move.

Shivnath Darade, executive member of the Shikshak Parishad, has written to the state chief electoral officer, saying, “There isn’t sufficient staff in schools. If teachers go for training and BLO work, how will school work continue? It is affecting academics. The CEO must give concession to teachers during the examination session.”

Teachers say that apart from board exams, many are also involved in conducting annual exams for Classes 1 to 9. “We are preparing students for exams and conducting papers. We request the Election Commission to give us time till the examinations are over,” the teacher said.

Rushikant Ghosalkar of the Municipal Samarth Kamgar Sanghatana has also written to the CEO. “In Malabar Hill assembly constituency, the local officer has exempted teachers involved in examination work from BLO duties and training sessions,” he wrote, urging similar relief across constituencies.

Prashant Dhage, electoral registration officer from Bandra constituency, said, “We need to update the voters’ list before actual SIR work begins. So we are conducting training as this work is also important and needs to be completed.”