Bill for teacher transfer regulations tabled in Karnataka to ensure availability of teachers in govt schools

On Tuesday, Education Minister Suresh Kumar tabled Karnataka State Services (Regulation of Transfer of Teachers) Bill to provide regulation of transfer of teachers to ensure the availability of teachers in government schools.

The salient features of the bill is it intends to specify minimum period of three years in school to seek transfer. The initial posting should be given in rural (C zone), after promotion its taluk (B zone). Only those who work in these zones on promotion can choose urban (A zone) during counselling. It also provide exemptions to teacher with disability as defined in the Rights of persons with Disabilities Act.

The new proposed bill proposes a teacher friendly approach in the matter of transfer and rationalisation of the teacher resource with all the exemptions and priorioties for various categories of teachers. The counselling for transfers will be done during April and May.

Bill also proposed to exempt zonal transfers in some special cases if teacher or spouse or children suffering from terminal illness or other serious ailments for which treatment is not available within the taluk in which teacher is working. It also exempted a widow or widower or a divorcee with dependent children below 12 years.

Teacher with spouse working as soldier or permanently disabled or deceased soldier are also exempted. Teachers above 50 years in case of female and 55 years in case of male are also exempted. Apart from this, pregnant teacher or a female teacher with a child less than one year is also exempted. Bill also proposed carrying out of transfers through manual counselling is prohibited.