Nashik: The district election office, Nashik, has reiterated that teachers and employees of all the government-aided, private schools and the cooperatives departments should refrain from participating in public rallies of the political parties or face suspension, as per the directives of the Election Commission of India.The DEO has written to Zilla Parishad CEO, deputy registrar of cooperatives, education officers of ZP, asking them to get the affidavit from all the government aided schools, institutes or private schools and the cooperative departments stating that they would be using the manpower only for the institution’s works.The matter comes to fore in the backdrop of the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking video recordings of public rallies to identify if there were any teachers from institutes who get payments from state exchequer, canvassing for the contestants during the parliamentary elections.The DEO has therefore asked the concerned officers to issue letter to the institutes explaining to them the Model Code of Conduct in depth and at the same time warning them against the misuse of manpower.“We have asked them to get the affidavit from the institutes. Besides, if the respective departments found out that there were some elements in the public rallies, they have to take quick and stern action against the offenders and the same shall be reported to the DEO,” senior officer from the DEO, said.The teachers, however, have opposed the letters sent by DEO saying it was infringement on their constitutional right.“The constitution has given the right to teachers to contest and canvass for elections. If that is the case, how can the teachers be barred from canvassing for any political party?” questioned Nandu Pawar, Savitribai Phule Pune University & College Teachers’ Organisation (SPPUCTO).The teachers from all the private schools and colleges have decided move the high court for justice against, what they termed as ‘an insult to democracy’.“The teachers and the professors can do what they want after performing their duties on daily and weekly basis. How can the ECI restrict the teachers and decided the code of conduct for the teachers. We have therefore decided to seek justice from high court and shall soon file a writ on the same,” Pawar added.

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