Kerala Administrative Tribunal quashes transfer lists for higher secondary teachers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Administrative Tribunal has nullified two lists released by the Education Department for the transfer of higher secondary teachers and directed them to revise and republish the lists within a month. The lists for Home Station and 'Others' transfers have been invalidated.

Both lists must be revised and republished within a month, considering the service seniority not only within the home district (home station) but also in neighboring districts, as per the tribunal's directive. This is to enable teachers to join their new schools by June 1. The revision should include necessary weightage to implement clause 2(ii) of the government order dated March 2, 2019 regarding the transfer of higher secondary teachers.

The tribunal's decision to cancel the lists stemmed from a contempt petition filed by teachers against the government's publication of the final transfer list without adhering to the order regarding outstation service seniority.

As per the 2019 order, teachers with three years of regular service as government higher secondary teachers can apply for open vacancies. Preference is given to those with outstation service, based on the length of their service. However, the government's list only considered outstation service seniority within the home district for vacancies.

Subsequently, a group of teachers petitioned for outstation service seniority to be considered for neighboring districts as well. The Tribunal ruled in their favor. However, the government appealed to the High Court, arguing that seniority should only be granted within the home district and published the final list without complying with the tribunal's order. This led the teachers to file a contempt of court petition.