The state government has backtracked from its earlier decision to compulsorily transfer teachers who have been working in the same place for more than ten years.
The government made the change in the draft rules for teacher transfers published on Thursday. It has bowed to the demands of teachers’ organisations and pressure from the opposition who were against this rule. However, the limit on transfers of teachers who have completed ten years has been fixed at 5% of the sanctioned strength of the concerned category in the relevant unit of seniority.
Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Teachers) Amendment Bill was passed in the first week of April by the Legislative Assembly and the Council. The amendment, which became an Act on April 18, had a provision for transfer of teachers who had completed ten years.
The government notified the draft rules for teacher transfers on Thursday and any objections have to be sent in 15 days.
The overall limit for transfers has been increased from 8% to 15% of the sanctioned posts.
For transfer of primary school teachers and head teachers, now district will be considered as the unit instead of taluk. In the case of high school teachers, transfers will continue with division as the unit.
In such cases where husband and wife are both government servants or husband, wife or child is suffering from a terminal illness or the teacher has undergone open heart surgery or organ transplant, their transfer will be considered a priority or will be exempted.
For mutual transfers, minimum service of three years is mandatory.