Srinagar, Oct 22: The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department (SED) has constituted a Union Territory-level Transfer Review Committee and designated committees at UT and Directorate levels to examine employee grievances and scrutinise transfer requests on medical, security and marriage grounds under the Transfer Policy-2026.
As per the government order issued by Commissioner Secretary SED Ram Niwas Sharma, separate mechanisms have been laid down for reviewing transfer-related grievances and examining requests seeking transfers on specified grounds.
As per the government Order No. 450-JK(Edu) of 2026, the Transfer Review Committee has been constituted in terms of Clause 11 of the Transfer Policy-2026.
The committee will function as part of the three-tier grievance redressal mechanism prescribed under the policy.
The committee is headed by the Special Secretary to the Government SED and will examine grievances referred to it at the UT level, taking into account the relevant policy provisions, grounds raised by aggrieved employees and action taken at the institutional or district level.
The committee will also determine whether the contested decisions conform to the prescribed transfer policy, eligibility conditions and established administrative procedures.
As per the order the recommendations of the committee will be placed before the competent authority for appropriate orders.
Meanwhile, in a separate government order No. 449-JK(Edu) of 2026, SED has constituted designated committees to examine, scrutinise and recommend transfer cases involving medical, security and marriage grounds, superseding previous orders on the subject.
For gazetted employees, including lecturers, headmasters, Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and principals, the committee will function at the UT level under the chairpersonship of the Special or Additional Secretary dealing with gazetted matters in SED.
The committee will also include a Deputy Secretary and an Under Secretary dealing with gazetted matters, with the latter designated as Member Secretary.
“A Medical Officer nominated by the concerned Government Medical College in Jammu or Srinagar will be a member in cases involving medical grounds,” the order reads.
For non-gazetted employees, including masters and teachers, designated committees will operate at the Directorate level under the respective Director of School Education, Jammu and Kashmir division.
These committees will include the Joint Director of the respective Directorate, Personal Officer and a representative of the Administrative Department.
A nominated Medical Officer will be included in cases involving medical grounds.
As per the order, these designated committees have been directed to meet at least twice during each academic session, with additional meetings permitted whenever considered necessary by the chairperson.
While examining transfer requests, the committees will assess eligibility, documentary requirements, availability of suitable posts, cadre requirements and administrative exigencies, wherever applicable, before making recommendations under the Transfer Policy-2026.
As per the order, a Medical Officer can be nominated as part of the committee for cases involving medical grounds, wherever required.
An official said the two mechanisms are intended to address different aspects of transfer-related matters.
He said the UT-level Transfer Review Committee will examine grievances against decisions, while the designated committees will scrutinise requests for transfers on medical, security and marriage grounds before recommending appropriate action.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Teachers Forum (JKTF) has welcomed formation of transfer committees and called for time-bound disposal of cases
Provincial president JKTF Javaid Ahmad Bhat said the committees must ensure smooth conduct of general transfers and transfers on marriage, security and health grounds.
“It is a welcome step but the authorities must ensure that all transfer cases are settled in a time-bound manner without causing unnecessary delays or inconvenience to teachers. We hope these committees shall not remain in papers but should work as per their mandate that too in a time Bound manner,” he said.
Bhat stressed that the annual transfer drive should be completed during the winter period preferably by January ending to ensure smooth academic functioning.
“Teachers often spend the entire year moving from office to office to resolve transfer-related grievances which adversely affects academics and disrupt the official environment of the department,” he added.
He urged the authorities to ensure a transparent, timely and hassle-free transfer process in the larger interest of teachers and the overall education system.
