Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has stepped into the ongoing controversy surrounding the state government’s decision to allow MLAs and MPs to recommend the transfer of school teachers from their constituencies. The court has issued an interim stay on the transfer of two teachers from Kalahandi district and has sought a response from the state government.
A division bench led by Justice Deekshit Krishna Shripad took up the joint hearing of petitions filed by R. Tripathi and others, who argued that the state government’s May 13 policy—authorising each legislator to recommend the transfer of 15 eligible teachers—was arbitrary, unjustified, and beyond its authority.
The petitioners contended that the transfer orders, based on the letter from the Joint Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department, had directly affected their postings. They claimed that the process undermined fairness and transparency, allowing political influence to dictate administrative decisions.
According to the May 13 directive, the recommendations from MPs and MLAs are to be routed through District Magistrates, with the final call to be taken by district-level transfer committees on the same day of receipt.
The High Court, while admitting the petitions, issued notices to the state and granted an interim stay on the petitioners’ transfer until the next hearing, which is scheduled four weeks from now.
This development brings the contentious teacher transfer policy under judicial scrutiny, raising questions about the role of political figures in administrative decisions.
