Teacher Census Duty: In a major administrative turnaround, the West Bengal School Education Department has officially revoked its controversial August 3 order, bringing significant relief to state government teachers. Under the revised directive issued on August 19, teachers assigned to census duties will now be treated as ‘On Duty’ (OD), freeing them from the obligation to conduct field surveys after school hours or during weekends.
This shift follows sharp observations by the Calcutta High Court during hearings challenging the state’s previous stance. State education authorities informed the court that joint instructions have been issued to ensure census field deployment does not compromise students’ academic progress.
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Calcutta High Court Questioned Dual Workload
The second phase of the national digital census, involving door-to-door data collection, kicked off on August 16. However, friction had been mounting over the August 3 notification, which required teachers to conduct surveys only after completing regular class hours or on official holidays. Pushed by the dual burden, several primary and secondary teacher associations sought legal remedy.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Krishna Rao expressed strong displeasure with the policy. The court emphasized that teaching remains a teacher’s primary statutory duty under the Right to Education Act, questioning how staff could reasonably commute to distant survey areas after completing classes from 10 AM to 4 PM. Following these scathing observations, the state submitted that its August 3 order stood withdrawn.
Practical Impact on Workflow and Service Rules
The original mandate had severely stretched daily working hours for educators. With the August 19 circular taking effect, practical administrative protections have been restored to teachers’ service records:
- Official On-Duty Status: Attendance during field work will be formally logged as ‘On Duty’ (OD) as per census authority guidelines, eliminating the need to mark school attendance simultaneously.
- Salary Protection: Conducted under the Census Act of 1948, census enumeration is officially classified as public duty. Teachers face zero risk of salary deductions or service breaks.
- Relief from Weekend Workload: Mandatory survey requirements on Saturdays, Sundays, and outside regular school hours have been completely removed.
Comparison Between Old and New Orders
To help educators easily track the operational changes, the primary procedural differences are summarized below:
| Feature | August 3 Order (Previous) | August 19 Order (Revised) |
|---|---|---|
| Working Hours | After school hours and on holidays | Designated census duty hours (9 AM – 4 PM) |
| Attendance Status | Mandatory regular school attendance | Official ‘On Duty’ (OD) granted |
| Teaching Workload | Simultaneous double duty imposed | Managed in coordination with census authorities |
| D.El.Ed Trainees | Deployed for census field work | Exempted as per High Court direction |
Protection of Pay and Leave Records
A primary concern among educators was whether absence from classroom duties would complicate leave records or lead to pay adjustments. Clarifying the matter, the School Education Department stated that because census enumeration constitutes essential state duty, leave records and take-home pay remain fully protected.
Additionally, trainee teachers currently pursuing D.El.Ed courses have been granted complete exemption from census duties to protect their training schedules. District Inspectors of Schools (DIs) and District Primary School Councils (DPSCs) have been instructed to enforce the revised ‘On Duty’ framework immediately.
