New Delhi: The Supreme Court has stayed the Kerala High Court’s order barring aided school teachers from contesting local body, assembly, and parliamentary elections. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde directed the teachers to file the petition. He also directed to send notices to the state government. The decisive intervention was in the petition of the aided school teachers.
The plaintiffs argued that aided teaching was not included in the definition of ‘office of profit’ as it was paid by the government. He explained that the contesting of teachers would not affect the right of children to learn in any way. Senior advocate V Giri pointed out that the deadline for filing nominations in Kerala is Friday and many people will not be able to contest due to the High Court verdict. The apex court then stayed the February verdict and ordered the teachers to contest the elections.
