State govt to act tough against teachers with political affiliations

Top Cong leader had sought list of lecturers with ABVP, RSS links

In the run-up to the Assembly elections next year, the state government is gearing up to initiate action against primary and high school teachers for their political affiliations and activities.

The government’s controversial move comes weeks after AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal reportedly sought a list of college lecturers for their affiliation with the Rahstriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP).

 Karnataka Civil Services Rules, 2007 (KSCR) say that teachers who have been serving in one place for more than 10 years can be transferred. The government may use this provision and effect transfers of teachers in October-November this year.

“Primary and high school teachers are under the scanner for their political affiliations and they may face strict action,” Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait told DH.

The minister said that the KSCR prevented teachers from enagaging in political activities. The government was closely watching the activities of a section of teaching community. The government would soon prepare a list of such teachers, Sait said.

“The government wants teachers to stay off from political engagements. The immediate action may be transfer of teachers who have served in one place for over 10 years. Apart from transfers, we may resort to other action,” he said.

Sait deflected a question on whether the state government was targetting teachers based on Venugopal’s suggestion to crack down on the ABVP and affiliated bodies in campuses.

“Neither the Congress party nor Venugopal have asked the government to keep an eye on teachers. We don’t want them to work for political parties,” he said.

He termed as baseless, the allegations by the BJP and the JD(S) that teachers affiliated to their parties were being targeted.

Teachers as poll officers

A large number of teachers is put on election duty. In many cases, teachers’ rapport and relationship with local masses and leaders could be crucial in several areas in deciding the fate of candidates.

There are reports that a section of teaching community is planning to work for certain political parties in some areas. Considering such reports, the government may transfer such teachers to far off places to prevent them from helping the Opposition parties. The government may even ignore such teachers for election duties, it is said.