A Zilla Parishad primary-school teacher from Narayanpur in Purandar taluka has been suspended after an inspection found that he was not regularly performing his teaching duties and had been working in the election branch of the Purandar tehsil office, according to Lokmat – Pune.
The action was ordered by Pune Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Gajanan Patil. The teacher, Manojkumar Satale, has been directed to report to Indapur during the suspension period.
Satale was appointed to the Narayanpur Zilla Parishad primary school but had reportedly been working for several years in the election branch of the Purandar tehsil office. Although he was drawing a salary from the education department, complaints were received by the Zilla Parishad that he was performing duties for the revenue administration instead of working at the school.
Following the complaints, Chief Executive Officer Patil appointed a special inspection team to conduct a surprise visit to the school. The team found that Satale was not present at the school and was engaged in election-related work, the report said. The Zilla Parishad then contacted the sub-divisional officer and tehsildar and instructed them to send him back to the school. Satale subsequently left the election assignment and reached the school.
The inspection team reported several shortcomings, including irregular attendance, the absence of educational activities and involvement in establishment-related work at the Panchayat Samiti office. Satale was later called to the Zilla Parishad office, where the suspension order was issued immediately.
The case highlights the administrative consequences of assigning government employees to duties outside their parent department without resolving the effect on their primary responsibilities. Election-related work often requires staff from different government offices, but the report indicates that Satale’s deployment continued for years while he remained formally attached to a primary school.
The issue also concerns the functioning of rural public schools, where staff availability directly affects daily teaching and other school activities. The report said complaints had previously been raised about the working methods of some teachers in Purandar taluka, including participation in administrative work and political or social programmes instead of educational duties. It did not provide details of the number of students affected or specify how long Satale’s election-branch assignment continued.
The Zilla Parishad’s inspection and disciplinary action followed complaints about Satale’s absence and the alleged diversion of his working time from school responsibilities. During the suspension period, he is required to report at Indapur, according to the order reported by Lokmat – Pune.
