Madurai: Madras high court sought a response from the state on a plea seeking a direction to exempt PG teachers, more particularly those handling classes to 10 to 12 in government and government aided schools from census duty in southern and central districts under the jurisdiction of Madurai bench.
A division bench of Justice C V Karthikeyan and Justice R Sakthivel was hearing a public interest litigation filed by V Manivasagam, state president emeritus of Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Post Graduate Teachers Association.
The petitioner stated that the census charge officer has issued directions requiring many PG teachers to perform census duties from August 1 to 30. The association fully appreciates the importance of the census and acknowledges that it is a vital national exercise. However, the deployment of PG teachers engaged in public examination classes for census duties during the ongoing academic session would seriously affect classroom teaching, completion of the prescribed syllabus, revision classes, doubt-clearing sessions, conduct of unit tests, internal assessments and other academic activities essential for effective learning and preparing the students to effectively face the public examinations.
He stated that there are about 59 government departments in Tamil Nadu in which numerous employees are working. Their assistance could be sought for in the collection of census. There are employees working in local bodies and NGO’s who could also be sought for. Nevertheless, there are non-teaching staff, primary school teachers, secondary grade teachers in the same schools, whose assistance could also be sought.
Hence, the petitioner moved court.
