In a significant escalation of grievances, at least fifteen teachers' unions in Punjab have called for a statewide protest on Tuesday, December 17, 2025. The action is a direct response to what they term as systemic harassment and gross mismanagement during recent election duties. The protest gains poignant urgency following the tragic death of a teacher couple in Moga district, who lost their lives while traveling to their assigned polling stations.
The Tragic Incident That Sparked Outrage
The unions' decision to protest was solidified after a devastating accident on Sunday, December 15. English teacher Jaskaran Singh Bhullar was driving his wife, Kamaljeet Kaur, to her election duty location in the early hours when their car veered into a drain in Moga. Police attributed the crash to dense fog. The couple, who were both assigned duty for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections, left behind two young children.
In a separate but related incident, another teacher, Rajveer Kaur, sustained serious injuries when the vehicle she was traveling in with her husband, Malkit Singh, fell into a water channel. She is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Patiala.
Core Demands of the Agitating Unions
In a joint press statement released on Monday, unions including the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) and the Elementary Teacher Union (ETU) outlined a series of non-negotiable demands. The protest will see effigies of the Punjab government and the State Election Commission (SEC) being burned outside Deputy Commissioners' offices across the state.
The unions are demanding:
- Immediate compensation of Rs 2 crore for the children of the deceased Moga couple, along with assured government jobs for them upon reaching adulthood.
- Full coverage of medical treatment costs for injured teacher Rajveer Kaur, along with Rs 20 lakh in compensation and a guarantee of her position post-recovery.
- Withdrawal of all show-cause notices and FIRs filed against Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and teachers who could not report for duty due to unavoidable circumstances.
- A permanent policy to assign election duties only within the block where a teacher resides or works, and exemption from such duties for those already serving as BLOs.
Allegations of Systemic Failure and Harassment
The teacher organizations have leveled serious allegations against the district administrations and the SEC. They claim that despite repeated warnings, women teachers were posted to remote polling stations 70-100 km away from their homes, with no adequate travel arrangements provided.
"Due to lack of adequate arrangements, they have to travel long distances in foggy conditions," the unions stated. They further accused several District Commissioners of blatantly ignoring SEC guidelines by compelling teachers to accept distant postings and threatening them with police cases for non-compliance.
The unions have issued a stern warning, stating that if their demands are not met promptly, the current agitation will intensify into a larger, sustained movement. This protest highlights the ongoing tension between government staff obligations and their safety and welfare, especially during large-scale democratic exercises like local body elections.
