Higher Secondary teacher transfer; Director of General Education tenders apology to Administrative Tribunal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Director of General Education, who violated the court order in the transfer of higher secondary teachers, tendered an unconditional apology before the Kerala Administrative Tribunal. It has also been requested to refrain from contempt of court proceedings as the circular has been withdrawn.

The tribunal heard two contempt of court petitions against Director of General Education S Shanavas yesterday.

The tribunal had directed in October to give due consideration as per rules to those working in alternate districts while preparing the transfer list. The first contempt petition is against the preparation of the list in disregard of this directive. The tribunal quashed this list on April 12 and directed to prepare a statutory list within a month.

The final transfer list was published by the Education Department pending the tribunal's order temporarily staying the transfer process. The teachers approached the tribunal against this and the whole process was stayed. Many of the teachers who took leave could not join the schools. Meanwhile, a teacher who approached the High Court against the tribunal's verdict obtained an interim order. The High Court's interim order said that the Tribunal's order will not affect the transfers made as per the government order.

Based on this order, the director issued a circular on May 4 instructing the teachers who took leave to join the new school. The second contempt petition stated that this was contrary to the current order of the Tribunal. The circular was withdrawn by the Director of General Education. Meanwhile, the General Education Department has not yet published the list as per the instructions of the Tribunal. The tribunal will hear the case again on the 24th.