The Calcutta High Court on Friday called for the smooth execution of both the Census exercise and classroom instruction, directing authorities to ensure that teachers assigned to enumeration work are supported in managing their logistical challenges.
Hearing a series of legal challenges filed by school staff, Justice Krishna Rao noted that public administration must address the personal difficulties faced by designated personnel so that census tasks do not disrupt students’ education.
Teachers Challenge Government Appointments
The court proceedings arose after a group of schoolteachers contested a government notification naming them as supervisors and enumerators for census operations. According to the petitioners, completing these administrative duties alongside their teaching obligations creates significant hardship under current schedule requirements.
The petitioners highlighted that many educators commute between 40 and 60 kilometers daily to reach their schools, working from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday. With Sunday serving as their sole weekly day off, the teachers argued that fulfilling census responsibilities within the mandated timeframes is difficult to manage.
Court Questions Sunday Work Demands
During the hearing, the court questioned whether educators who already endure long daily commutes and full-time teaching schedules should be expected to dedicate their only rest day to census duties, even if additional compensation is provided.
Justice Krishna Rao emphasized that while census enumeration remains essential, administrative officials must implement measures that allow both educational activities and demographic data collection to proceed without compromising either duty.
