In uncertain times, state keeps teacher-transfer order in abeyance
Times of India | 13 April 2025
123 Kolkata: The transfer process initiated by the state school education department following an order on March 31, 2023, to maintain student-teacher ratio in state-aided primary, upper primary, secondary and HS schools has been put in the back burner. An order to keep the order in abeyance was issued by the department on Friday. Following this order, 200 teachers who had earlier been transferred via the 2023 order will be transferred back to the schools in which they earlier worked.
Sources said over 1,500 teachers were to be transferred under this system. The process began and around 400 transfer orders were issued for upper primary, secondary and higher secondary schools. However, the process got stalled after 200 transfers following a petition filed in the high court, stating that teachers were transferred arbitrarily, violating distance-related regulations. The next hearing of the case is on April 17.
However, in the current scenario in which 25,000-plus teachers and non-teaching staff are agitating over the job loss following the Supreme Court order earlier this month, sources said the state does not want any further complications. Hence, it issued the order to put the earlier order in abeyance.
"Earlier, the transfer was made by issuing letters to individuals. However, some complaints reached the dept, stating they were transferred to distant locations. Considering their demand, the existing order now stands cancelled. Transfers will be made through the online system, and the portal will be opened for them to apply," said an official.
Animesh Haldar, the South 24 Parganas district secretary of Secondary Teachers and Staff Association, said, "Instead of filling numerous vacancies in the state, some teachers were ordered to be transferred to schools located 150-200 or even 300 kilometres away from their homes. Even teachers, who returned closer to home through the ‘Utsashree' scheme, after working in distant location schools for many years, were subjected to this mandatory transfer. That's why we fought against this compulsory transfer. We are happy that the govt has withdrawn it."
Advanced Society for Headmasters and Headmistresses general secretary Chandan Kumar Maiti said, "It will largely impact schools in rural areas as the limited number of vacancies, which were filled, will become vacant again."