Delhi High Court orders Election Commission to limit election duties for school teachers

The Delhi High Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls does not place an "unbearable" burden on school teachers. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, emphasized that while the ECI has authority under Article 324 to involve teachers for electoral roll revision, Section 27 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 restricts non‑educational work to only three exceptions – census, disaster relief and election duties. The court warned that teachers already work six to eight hours in school and additional election duties, often on non‑teaching days, could cause excessive stress, especially for female teachers with family responsibilities. The ECI pledged to avoid over‑working teachers and the matter was scheduled for further hearing on 20 August.