Over 50,000 Class X and XII teachers in the State will not be enrolled for Lok Sabha election duties, the Election Commission has said. Assistant Chief Electoral Officer A.N. Walvi issued a circular to this effect on Wednesday.

Lok Sabha elections for all 48 seats in the State will be held in four phases between April 11 and April 29. Shikshak Bharati, an organisation of primary and secondary teachers, had expressed fear to the State Chief Electoral Officer that SSC and HSC results would be delayed if these teachers are drafted for poll duty.

After holding talks with various departments, the electoral office decided to exempt these teachers. Those teaching other classes, however, will not be exempt from the task. Election duties for teachers typically include undergoing training for the process, working at booths on voting and counting days, and collecting poll material.

Under the Right to Education Act, 2009, teachers are allowed to be sent on three assignments: census, disasters and elections. Teachers’ groups say that poll duties result in a wastage of teaching time, as they are called for training a few days ahead of the elections.