No election duty respite to teachers from 3 universities

Nagpur: Teachers from Nagpur, Gondwana and Amravati Universities failed to get any respite from upcoming election duties from April 10 to 12 after Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Thursday dismissed their petition.

The court noted that the universities have already shifted their exam schedule and now there won’t be a problem for teachers, who had moved the court on the grounds that simultaneous duties would affect their preparations and performance.

Teachers from a Gondia college also submitted that they were hard pressed since they were engaged “day and night” in NAAC preparations at their college beside the gruelling schedule for exams and elections. Their counsel Ashfaque Sheikh also informed the court that the petitioners had to complete the 90-day teaching period.

The petitioners from all the three universities had argued that exam timetable was declared well in advance. However, the election commission brought the revised timetables on record while informing the court about shortage of polling agents.

Dismissing the petitions, the court ordered that the teachers would cooperate in election works.

Anup Dhore and Pradep Wathore were counsels for other universities.