The Delhi government has suspended the transfer orders of 5,000 school teachers, acting on the directions of Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena. This move comes amidst controversy surrounding the mandatory transfer of teachers who have been at the same school for over 10 years.
On Sunday, Lt. Governor Saxena met with a delegation of Delhi BJP leaders and teacher representatives at his office. Following this meeting, he instructed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to halt the transfer orders issued last week temporarily.
Delhi Education Minister Atishi, in a press conference, reacted positively to the development. She accused the BJP of orchestrating a "conspiracy" behind the transfer orders and expressed her gratitude to the people of Delhi for their role in their withdrawal.
The Directorate of Education (DoE) had previously issued a circular requiring all teachers with over 10 years at a single school to apply for a transfer online. The June 11 circular warned that non-compliance would result in the DoE assigning them to any school.
This policy sparked criticism, with Atishi raising concerns about corruption in the transfer process. She had earlier urged the Chief Secretary to stop the mandatory transfers immediately.
In an official statement, the education department acknowledged receiving numerous complaints regarding the transfer orders. The department announced the formation of a committee with representatives from all stakeholders and education experts. This committee will comprehensively review the situation and propose a fair and balanced solution.
Consequently, the transfer orders issued on July 2, 2024, stand suspended until further notice. All affected teachers will remain in their current postings as of July 1, 2024.
