'You do whatever you like?' Delhi HC pulls up EC for deploying school teachers for BLO duties during SIR

Delhi High Court questioned the Election Commission over deploying school teachers as Booth Level Officers for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The court asked under what legal authority teachers were compelled to perform election duties, citing Article 324 of the Constitution.

The court rejected the EC's claim that teachers serve as volunteers, noting that refusal could lead to disciplinary action.

The EC argued it derives power from Section 13B(2) of the Representation of the People Act and that teachers are engaged only during holidays and non-teaching hours.

The bench questioned why teachers should have to give up their holidays for election work despite compensation being offered.