A conflict has emerged between the department of school education and literacy and the office of the chief electoral officer over the deployment of school teachers for non-teaching duties, particularly election-related work.

Earlier this week, the department of school education issued a circular prohibiting the use of teachers for non-teaching tasks during school days. The move is part of a broader initiative aimed at enhancing learning outcomes and boosting board exam performance across the state. The department further wrote to all district election officers, urging them to relieve teachers of electoral duties, citing public interest and the need to maintain academic integrity in schools.

However, the chief electoral office has pushed back, asserting its position with a letter signed by joint chief electoral officer, Yogeshwara S. The letter insists that teachers will continue to be deployed for election duties in accordance with directives issued by the Supreme Court and the election commission of India.

Quoting a Supreme Court ruling, the electoral office stated that “teaching staff can be deployed for revision of electoral rolls and election duty on holidays and non-teaching days,” while non-teaching staff may be used “on any day or at any time if permitted by law.”

The letter also referenced the Election Commission’s circular dated 5 June 2025, which outlines guidelines for the appointment of booth level officers (BLOs) under Section 13B (2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The circular recommends giving first preference to permanent Group C employees of government or local bodies. However, it also lists Anganwadi workers, contract teachers, and central government employees as alternatives—offering no exemption for schoolteachers.

In reaffirming its stance, the electoral office clarified that existing rules empower it to train and appoint teachers as BLOs, even in the face of departmental opposition.

The ongoing standoff reflects a deeper tension between two key government functions—education and electoral management—with each citing legal and public interest justifications for their positions. As the academic year progresses and electoral preparations ramp up, a resolution remains uncertain.

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