The Education Department of the Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to come out with a more pragmatic transfer policy for teachers in the State.
In a separate transfer policy, the government has also ensured the strengthening of educational institutions and availability of teachers in the far flung areas of the State. It has now been made mandatory for all the teachers to serve in difficult, rural and tribal areas for at least three academic sessions initially, said an official spokesman.
The policy is also made liberal to grant special relaxation to employees on special grounds regarding postings subject to availability of vacancy. The department will accommodate couples at the same or nearby places in rural areas only; widows having minor children will also be accommodated at a convenient place as far as possible. Consideration would be given to the wives of personnel serving in the armed forces or para military forces for being posted and appointed at convenient places.
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Efforts would be made to give roadside stations to teachers with 70 per cent or more disability, besides posting those teachers who are likely to retire within two years nearer to their native place. But this provision will not be applicable to Class-I, II and teaching staff working on administrative posts, he said. In order to streamline the administrative mechanism, general transfers shall be ordered in the month of April and there will be ban on transfers after April 30 every year. Thereafter, transfers can be ordered with the prior approval of the Chief Minister under circumstances such as promotion, retirement, death, deputation, resignation, suspension, proceeding on long leave, due to creation, abolition of shifting of post on rationalization, on the basis of complaint after verifying facts, due to poor academic performance or misconduct, from institutions of lower enrolment to institutions of higher student enrolments.
The policy clearly spells out that in the event of a teacher being transferred, the controlling officer would ensure that the transferred teacher shall join duty only when the person occupying the post is relieved first, only thereafter, the joining of the incumbent shall be accepted. In the event of the transfer of Controlling Officer himself he shall be deemed relieved on the submission of joining report by the other incumbent. If the controlling officer does not comply with this procedure, the salary of surplus incumbent will be drawn from the salary of the Controlling Officer, said the spokesperson.