Probe panel finds lapses in transfer of additional teachers

Departmental inquiry has found lapses in the counselling for the transfer of excess assistant teachers and head masters of primary schools in Kolar taluk. the deputy director of public instruction has submitted a report to the zilla panchayat chief executive officer in this regard.

Counselling was held in the six education zones of the district for the transfer of assistant teachers and head masters, identified as excess in primary schools of the taluk. The block education officers of respective educational zones conducted the counselling and BEO Jagadish was in charge of the task for Kolar educational zone.

However, there were allegations of widespread lapses in the counselling. Several teachers had alleged that the guidelines framed by the government had been thrown into winds while conducting counselling. In fact, counselling was held thrice owing to the confusion created by the BEO and his staff. Some teachers had even staged a protest against the “injustice” caused to them in the counselling. They had made a complaint to the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer B B Kaveri seeking a thorough probe into the counselling.

Following this, the Commissioner of Public Instruction, Soujanya, had directed the  director of primary education to conduct a probe into the alleged irregularities and submit a report. On the other hand, the ZP chief executive officer too had sought a report from the in-charge DDPI, N Anjinappa.

Accordingly, a team comprising DDPI Anjinappa, Bangarpet BEO Jayaraj, KGF BEO Venkatarama Reddy, district Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan assistant coordinator Mylarappa and superintendent Rajendra conducted a probe into the counselling process.

During the investigation, the committee found that the BEO had transferred a total of 141 teachers and irregularities were found in the transfer of 68 teachers. The committee has submitted a 18-page report to the Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer.

The committee, in its report, has said that the BEO has tampered with the information in the service registers of teachers. He has transferred 41 teachers by altering their date of joining service. Moreover, it has also come to light that the BEO had dropped the names of 27 teachers from the counselling list, who were eligible for transfer.  It has said that the BEO had transferred teachers close to him and those who are members of teachers’ association to “comfortable” places, and has recommended disciplinary action against the officer.

According to the guidelines framed by the government, the teachers in schools having less than 60 students should be transfered. However, teachers who are left with only two years of service, widows, those with more than 40% disability and teachers suffering from serious diseases, were exempted from these transfers.

However, there were allegations that the guideline has not been followed in transfer of excess teachers.