Aided school, college teachers can contest polls in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though civil servants are barred from indulging in political work while being in government rolls, employees in aided schools and colleges in the state are a privileged section who can contest in elections.

Despite the state government meeting their salary and pension expenses, they are appointed by the school/ college managers. Since they are appointed by private individuals, they can contest in polls, a freedom which governments across the country denies to government teachers.

“There is no justification for such special privileges. The law should be applicable to all civil servants. I don’t know what is the logic behind granting special political freedom to a section of employees whose salary and pension expenses are met by the government,” said Kerala higher education council vice chairman Rajan Gurukkal.

A committee headed by K G Sukumara Pillai, former additional secretary, finance had in 2008 recommended the government to do away with the practice of giving special privileges to aided school/college teachers. But the powerful teachers’ lobby had then forced the LDF government to jettison the recommendation.

“Several MLAs, MPs and ministers in the state were aided school/college teachers. Take for example the two ministers we have now. One is still in the rolls of an aided college and the other has only recently took VRS from the service” said a senior IAS official.

KSRTC employees had once enjoyed the same right. They had permission to contest local body elections. The government stopped the practice in the early 1990’s.

“Aided school teachers are governed by Chapter XIV (C) of K.E.R. The rules are the same as in the Kerala Government Servants’ Conduct Rules 1960. The Government Servants’ Conduct Rules do not permit a government servant to engage in political activities directly or indirectly. Unfortunately, in 1967, among other things, the government ordered that teachers of aided schools governed by Chapter XIV (C) of KER can be allowed the same political rights as teachers under Chapter XIV (B) of K.E.R”.

“No teacher working in an aided school or college can claim immunity or exemption from the provisions relating to Kerala Government Servants Conduct Rule adopted for aided school/college teachers. In a context in which not a single teacher in aided schools after the 1960s continues in service after opting XIV (B) of KER, it is totally misleading to justify the granting of political rights to aided school teachers based on the rights of an imaginary and non-existing category called XIV (B) optees,” said the Sukumara Pillai report.