The transfer process for teachers in Uttarakhand’s education department has been put on hold following a High Court order. The court has paused all transfers that are based on whether schools are classified as accessible (sugam) or remote (durgam) areas.

According to education secretary Ravinath Raman, the High Court’s decision came after it was found that two schools in the same area of Uttarkashi district were classified differently — one as a remote area junior high school and the other as an accessible area primary school, reported Amar Ujala on Sunday.

This inconsistency led the court to stop the transfers based on such classifications.

The education department had already started the transfer process this year, following the Transfer Act for teachers and staff. Committees were formed at the division and district levels to list the teachers eligible for transfer and identify vacant posts in both accessible and remote zones.

However, the High Court order has temporarily stopped the entire process.

This development affects more than 70,000 teachers in the state. Many have been working for 20 to 25 years in remote and very remote schools, and this year, for the first time, the usual limit on transfers was removed, raising hopes among teachers for transfers to easier-to-reach areas.

Deputy Secretary of Personnel Lalit Mohan Rayal said that the Personnel Department has not yet received a formal proposal about the transfer ban. Once it does, the matter will be reviewed by the appropriate authorities, the report noted.

The education department is currently consulting with the legal department to clarify the issue.

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