Mumbai: Eleven teachers from two convent schools in Santacruz (East) were booked on Wednesday for not reporting for duty as booth level officers (BLOs) as part of the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise to verify the voter list.The case was registered on a complaint received from Bandu Raut (56), assistant electoral registration officer (ERO), appointed for assembly constituency number 175, which comes under Kalina in Santacruz (East), after he said none of the teachers responded to his summons notice issued on July 7.“The teachers were booked under the Representation of the People Act Section 32 for breach of official duty in connection with the preparation of electoral rolls and under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 223 for intentional disobedience of a lawful order promulgated by a public servant. Notices will be served and their statements will be recorded,” said a police officer of the Vakola police station.Raut in the FIR said that a reminder was sent to teachers for participating in the process on July 7. “They deliberately disobeyed the orders. Therefore, the ERO and deputy collector, Mumbai suburban, have authorised me to file a complaint,” said Raut in the FIR.The electoral office had instructed the teachers to be present for the BLO work at the booth or polling centre by 10 am, which is during school working hours. Except for a junior clerk, the 11 teachers from the two schools remained absent from duty by disobeying the lawful orders of ERO, said the FIR.One of the 11 teachers told TOI on Friday that being assigned election-related work at this stage would disrupt classes, as they are already struggling to complete the syllabus ahead of the exams. Most of the teachers booked are teaching Class 10 students.The teachers who spoke to TOI said that many of them were under tremendous stress and they were struggling to manage teaching as well as BLO duty. “We even end up shouting at students, and parents are also questioning us for not completing the syllabus. Teachers said they were also not relieved by the schools from their daily teaching work, which starts early in the day and lasts till late afternoon.Another teacher, Shaikh Yasin Mohammad, told TOI, “I have been on medical leave for the last two weeks. and submitted the medical report of my surgery. I have been granted leave and was told that I am exempted for the BLO work.”Two teachers said the electoral office did not accept their written submission explaining their problems.“No one is even ready to listen to us. Only notices are issued to us for and finally an FIR is registered against us without realising that we have to complete our portions as exams are nearing and parents are complaining that we are not giving time to students and not completing the subjects,” said Ajay Khaire, an assistant teacher.Another assistant teacher, Suresh Sahu said, “The collector accepted our submissions. But the election office is not ready to listen. We are ready to do BLO work if they are ready to give relaxation in the school duties. At present we are leaving our home early in the morning and completing school work till late afternoon. The additional BLO work is taking a toll on our health and even the stress is shown by way of shouting at students for no reason. We are unable to take care of our family. Parents are shouting at us for not covering portions properly as exams are nearing.”A school teacher from Vikhroli was admitted to hospital on Monday after allegedly attempting suicide by consuming sleeping pills.In June, three separate FIRs were registered against 14 school teachers from educational institutions in Borivli and Dahisar for not turning up for special intensive revision (SIR) duty and violating govt orders.
