Karnataka: Cap on teacher transfers up from 6 to 15 per cent

The state cabinet on Friday decided to increase the cap on teachers transfers from the existing six per cent to 15 per cent from this academic year by bringing an amendment to the Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Teachers) Act, 2007 and the Karnataka State Civil Services (Control of Transfer of Teachers) Rules, 2007.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, a senior leader said that in 2013, the Karnataka High Court had advised the state government to revisit the rules governing the transfer of teachers working in government schools and make the rules "family friendly". "As per this, observation, the government has taken the step to revise transfer rules.The Division Bench had suggested orally that there was no corresponding link between the rules and the Act. "Rules are made with the intention to help spouses, who are living separately. But now, practically, rules are separating them from each other. Rules should not be anti-family. They should be friendly to the family," the  Bench had observed. The leader observed that there were  times when a married teacher had to resign and join the spouse; hence, this was disturbing in many ways. "In any case the High Court  found that the cap on teacher transfers was unmeaningful, hence, the decision was taken to amend this Act in 2 days," the source added.