Archive · 24 Jul 2026
Delhi HC seeks EC's stand on PIL over teachers for SIR
The Delhi High Court has asked the Election Commission to clarify its stance on a petition that questions the mandatory deployment of government school teachers for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The petitioners argue that this deployment disrupts teaching hours and violates the Right to Education.
They want the court to direct the authorities to cap the deployment of teachers at 10% and schedule their duties outside teaching hours.
The Election Commission, however, maintains that the participation of teachers is voluntary and compensated with an honorarium.
The court has asked the EC to file a short affidavit stating its stand by Monday and listed the PIL for hearing on July 28.
Delhi High Court seeks Election Commission's stand on PIL over the deployment of government school teachers for the SIR process.
Petitioners argue that the deployment is mandatory and disrupts teaching hours, violating the Right to Education.
Election Commission's counsel asserts that participation is voluntary and compensated with an honorarium.
Court asks EC to file a short affidavit stating its stand by Monday and lists the PIL for hearing on July 28.
Petitioners seek a direction to cap the deployment of teachers at 10% and schedule their duties outside teaching hours.
- Who
- Delhi High Court, Election Commission, Lawyers Rajesh Kumar Gogna and Ashok Agarwal
- What
- PIL challenging the mandatory deployment of government school teachers for the SIR process
- When
- July 24, with the next hearing on July 28
- Where
- Delhi High Court
- Why
- To protect the fundamental right to education of students in government schools and ensure the voluntary nature of teachers' participation in the SIR process
Petitioners' Concerns
Election Commission's Stance
Mandatory Participation
Petitioners' Concerns
The petitioners argue that the participation of government school teachers in the SIR process is mandatory and disrupts teaching hours, violating the Right to Education.
Election Commission's Stance
The EC's counsel asserts that participation is voluntary and teachers are compensated with an honorarium, with only 10-14% eventually called upon.
Deployment of Teachers
Petitioners' Concerns
The petitioners claim that the entire regular faculty has been withdrawn during teaching hours, leaving classes to be conducted by guest teachers or unrelated subject teachers.
Election Commission's Stance
The EC's counsel states that the Commission takes a liberal view and only a few teachers are deployed when requested.
Utilization of Non-Teaching Staff
Petitioners' Concerns
The petitioners seek a direction to first utilize the available non-teaching staff for the SIR process.
Election Commission's Stance
The EC's counsel did not explicitly address this point but focused on the voluntary nature of teachers' participation.
- Court
- Delhi High Court
- Bench
- Chief Justice D K Uapdhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia
- Petitioners
- Lawyers Rajesh Kumar Gogna and Ashok Agarwal
- Process
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- EC's Stance
- Participation of teachers is voluntary and compensated with an honorarium
- Court's Directive
- EC to file a short affidavit stating its stand by Monday
- Next Hearing
- July 28
- Petitioners' Claim
- Deployment of teachers violates the Right to Education and relevant laws