Now Reading: Calcutta HC questions teacher deployment for Census 2027
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Calcutta HC questions teacher deployment for Census 2027
The Calcutta High Court on Friday questioned the West Bengal government's decision to deploy large numbers of government school teachers for Census 2027 work while expecting them to continue regular teaching. Justice…
The Story in Brief
The Calcutta High Court on Friday questioned the West Bengal government's decision to deploy large numbers of government school teachers for Census 2027 work while expecting them to continue regular teaching. Justice Krishna Rao asked how teachers could conduct classes during school hours and then travel for door-to-door Census work, sometimes up to 40 km a day.
A group of teachers has approached the court, demanding that Census duties be treated as 'on duty' rather than after-school work. The court noted inconsistencies across local bodies, with municipalities like Siliguri and Kalyani granting on-duty status while Kolkata Municipal Corporation has not. Teachers have also raised concerns about harassment during door-to-door surveys.
The Indian Opinion
The state government's plan expects teachers to clock a full school day and then trek across Kolkata for Census work, that is neither practical nor fair. The narrative that teachers are refusing duty is lazy; they are asking for basic logistical sense and official on-duty status, which some municipalities already grant. The real test will be how the government responds to the court's pointed questions about planning and travel distances. Will it offer a rotation system or stick to its unrealistic schedule? That will show whether it values teachers or just their availability.
Source: nationalheraldindia.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
