Teachers banned in electoral politics

Sandesh Prabhudesai
2 January 2002  

Though not banned totally, Goa has restrained teachers from participating in electoral politics. They are allowed to contest, provided they go on ‘leave not due’.

The circular was issued on 28 December, three days prior to the beginning of nominations for panchayat elections, slated for 20 January. The hasty circular however has created sheer confusion among the ruling BJP cadres as well as the opposition.

"My intention is to safeguard the education field which is being neglected by the teachers due to their active participation in politics", states chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

The circular states that no teacher employed in government-aided schools at primary, secondary or higher secondary level shall canvass or cause to interfere with any election of Parliament, Legislature or self-governing local bodies like panchayats or municipalities.

However, to contest, the circular allows the teacher to proceed on ‘leave not due’ before filing nomination and can rejoin within three days, if he loses or after completion of term in case of getting elected.

In order to compensate the teacher, Parrikar is also planning to bring in new legislation which will make provision of special honorarium for the elected ‘teachers’, besides making provision for salaries and allowances to all the elected panchas and councillors.

Though teacher is allowed to contest by applying for lien, education director Gajanan Pednekar is himself not aware whether any teacher could be granted such leave for canvassing or it is a total ban on participating in electoral politics.

"Neither the procedure followed is proper nor people or opposition is taken into confidence", states Congress chief Nirmala Sawant, also a legislator. She terms the circular illegal, claiming that it requires amendment to the state education act.

"I am authorised under Rule 30 to issue any such instructions in the interest of school education if it is not covered by existing rules", states Pednekar, justifying his hasty action. He however also admits that no provision is made for punitive action if this new rule is violated.

Interestingly, the rules for panchayat elections (and also municipalities) exempt teaching and non-teaching staff of aided schools from getting disqualified, unlike the provision made to disqualify government servants if they contest elections.

The chief minister however assures to make all the necessary amendments in the respective acts in the coming winter Assembly session beginning from 14 January, before the state goes for panchayat polls on 20 January.

Though even the opposition parties are supporting the move to ban teachers from participating in the electoral politics, they feel that this should have not been done hastily as several teachers, who were planning to contest, have been now deprived.

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