TS lifts ban on transfers, issues guidelines

Transfers schedule announced for May 25-June 15 period

Within hours of a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister taking the decision to formulate new zonal systems with seven zones and two multi-zones, the State government on Thursday issued orders relaxing the ban on transfers and announced the schedule for transfers from May 25 to June 15.

The orders issued by Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi stated that the heads of departments and competent authorities shall follow the guidelines recommended by a committee of senior officers headed by Special Chief Secretary (Energy) Ajay Misra while effecting transfer of employees. The ban on transfers would, however, come into force again with effect from June 16.

Two-year period

As per the guidelines issued by the government, no employee with less than two years service at a particular place as on May 31 this year shall be transferred.

The condition of completion of two years, however, need not be followed in respect of transfers on spouse grounds and employees transferred and provisionally ordered to serve in new districts in October 2016.

The employees who have put in five years of service at a particular station as on May 31 would not be retained at their present place of working.

Retiring employees

However, the employees who are retiring before May 31, 2019 shall not be transferred even if they have completed five years of service, unless they make a specific request for their transfer.

To ensure that there is no dislocation of the work, not more than 40% of employees in any cadre shall be transferred. The priority criteria finalised for consideration of options include — when more than one employee opts for a particular place, priority shall be given in the descending order, subject to satisfaction of other conditions specified now and the employee not facing charges in departmental/criminal proceedings.

Spouse cases

Besides, husband and wife cases (only one of the spouse shall be shifted following the prescribed procedure); the employees retiring before May 31, 2019 in case if they opt for transfers; employees with disability of 70% or more; employees having mentally retarded children to a place where medical facilities are available; widows appointed under the compassionate appointment scheme; medical grounds for six specified diseases (either self or spouse or dependent children and dependent parents) to places where facilities are available for treatment and employees working in hardship areas.

Transfers shall be effected from focal to non-focal, as identified by the departments concerned, and vice versa.