Controversial guidelines on ce

Political

Controversial guidelines on census duty for WB teachers withdrawn

The State School Education Department has finally taken a major step towards appointing teachers working in the state for census work. After objections from teachers and strict observation by the Calcutta High Court, the previous controversial directive issued on August 3 has been withdrawn. According to the new decision, teachers employed for census work will now be directly considered 'on duty' without being given additional academic pressure.

On August 3, the School Education Department issued a notification stating that to maintain the normal teaching and learning of the school and the interests of the students, teachers will have to complete the census work after school hours or on holidays (Saturdays and Sundays).

This order by the Education Department sparked a huge outcry among teachers. Teachers' organizations claimed that it was practically impossible for them to take on this extra workload even on holidays after having to travel from far and wide to attend to the responsibilities of the school every day. Several cases were filed in the Calcutta High Court regarding the issue.

During the hearing of the case, Justice Krishna Rao of the Calcutta High Court expressed his deep dissatisfaction over the lack of coordination between the state and the Centre. The court questioned how the state was directing teachers to work on holidays when the Census Authority had fixed the working hours for normal working days from 9 am to 4 pm. Terming this additional burden on teachers as "arbitrary", the court directed that a balance be struck between the interests of both education and teachers.

To avoid the strict attitude of the court and legal complications, the state government informed the High Court about its decision to withdraw its previous instructions. Similarly, the School Education Department issued a new memo on Wednesday, August 19. The memo issued by the Joint Director of the School Education Department stated that the memo number 708(46)-Sc/P issued on August 3, 2026 has been withdrawn. At the same time, the concerned officials have been instructed to comply with the instructions of the Census Authority.

Although the guidelines have been withdrawn, the School Education Department has appealed that teachers be used for census work in a way that does not disrupt the regular school curriculum or the academic year of students.

However, as a result of the issuance of new guidelines, from now on, even if teachers assigned to census work are not present at school on those working days, it will be considered as special leave or 'on duty'.

Teachers are seeing this move by the state government as a moral victory for them. However, if teachers do this during school hours, a new challenge has arisen as to how to keep schools functioning.