Will teachers take pay cuts, asks HC as PIL seeks no Covid duty

Will teachers take pay cuts, asks HC as PIL seeks no Covid duty

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 14.07.2020

Chiding a government teachers’ association that sought exemption from Covid-related work, the Madras high court wondered whether the teachers would accept pay cuts since schools are not functioning.

Observing that teachers should be role model for younger generations in serving the society during difficult times, a division bench of Justice M M Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha said, “Teachers should rise to the occasion and stand out in helping the people rather than boycotting it.”

The court made the observations while dismissing a public interest writ petition filed by Tamil Nadu Elementary Teachers’ Association, on Monday. According to the petitioner-association, the state has so far engaged more than 200 teachers to provide counselling for Covid-19 patients. It said teachers are not trained to provide counselling, adding that a teacher had also contracted the infection.

The work assigned included collecting information of contacts of infected people, manning Covid-19 call centres operated by the corporation, and to carry out any other work assigned by the zonal team. “Despite efforts, teachers are put at high risk of infection, their health conditions are not considered before engaging them,” the petitioner said.