Teachers in good health appear to have resorted to an unhealthy practice for getting transfers on medical grounds. They have cited common illnesses like diabetes to claim the benefit that comes from being “terminally-ill”. Worse, Education Department officials have accepted these false claims and effected the transfers of these primary and secondary teachers last month.
Though the department has laid down the grounds for transfer of teachers suffering from kidney failure, heart ailments, cancer and HIV/AIDS — categorised as terminally ill — some teachers have claimed the benefit by citing illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and back pain, documents with The Hindu reveal. Some, it is now learnt, may not even be suffering from the illnesses that they have cited. Sources alleged that the majority of these irregularities had taken place in north Karnataka districts.
One of the teachers, who applied for transfer, said they were forced to resort to such desperate measures as the amendment to the Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Teachers) Act, 2007 did not come through. “An amendment would have increased our opportunities, but it did not come through. This forced some teachers to resort to unethical measures.”
Incidentally, though 52,489 applications were received for transfers, only 9,375 candidates got them.
The counselling for teacher transfers, during which these documents were submitted, was completed in July this year. The irregularities came to the attention of Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar soon after, and he sought a report on Monday. The Principal Secretary of Primary and Secondary Education has been asked to conduct an inquiry into allegations of irregularities.
Mr. Ratnakar told The Hindu that those involved will be suspended on the basis of a preliminary inquiry and investigations will continue. “Even if the doctors or medical officers have been involved in issuing fake medical opinions, they will be suspended.”
He also said that the amendment to the Act would be brought in to ensure that criminal action is initiated against doctors who recommend fake medical cases and suspension and termination against teachers and officials in the department if they engage in such malpractices.
Mr. Ratnakar’s office on July 1, had informed the Commissioner for Public Instruction about the alleged irregularities. He had urged an inquiry. However, sources i
n the department said it was not followed through.
