Kolkata, Aug 21 The Calcutta High Court on Friday said teachers deputed on census work would be deemed to be on school duty and clarified they cannot not refuse the assignment.
Disposing of pleas over teachers being assigned population survey work, it said if the director of Census Operations and the Charge Officer intend to avail their services, the date, time and place of work must be specified to their head of the institution.
The head of the institution must allow them to go for the census work upon receiving such a request from Census authorities, and make alternative arrangements with available teachers so that students are not affected, Justice Krishna Rao said.
The court said that if teachers are on census duty, they will be deemed to be on school duty in accordance with provisions of Section 15A of the Census Act.
The section ensures that population count work would not negatively impact an employee's career, job status, or promotion opportunities.
Justice Rao also said that a teacher deputed for census work by the appropriate authorities must not refuse the assignment.
The West Bengal government informed the court on Wednesday that it had withdrawn a notification mandating teachers to engage in census work after school hours and on weekends.
On Tuesday, the judge had flagged a lack of coordination between the state and the Centre over the work schedule for teachers assigned census duty and asserted that a balance must be struck between the enumeration work and school duties.
