Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 17: The Government today ordered complete ban on transfer and postings in flood ravaged Jammu and Kashmir with immediate effect and even kept all transfers ordered after September 1, 2014 except by the General Administration Department (GAD) in abeyance.
An order to this effect was issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) on the instructions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who heads it.
The Government order will, however, not cover the postings of officials and officers made for making 659 newly created administrative units functional.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the blanket ban on transfers and postings has been imposed by the State Government in view of unprecedented situation arising out of heavy rains and floods in Jammu and Kashmir, which have claimed nearly 250 lives and caused huge destruction of civilian property and infrastructure.
“The Government had apprehensions that some Government officers/officials would try to move out of the Kashmir Valley especially Srinagar district by getting them transferred fearing breakout of epidemic after flood waters completely recede,” they said, adding to prevent such move, the Government has ordered ban on all transfers and postings and even rescinded the transfer orders issued after September 1.
The Government had reports that several employees were approaching the Ministers and the bureaucrats for their postings out of Srinagar in view of prevailing conditions in the capital city. “To check the move and ensure that the Government officers and officials work in Srinagar and other parts of flood hit Jammu and Kashmir, where their services were most required at this juncture, the Government has imposed ban on all transfers and postings,” sources said, adding the ban order would stay till the situation returns to normal in the entire State.
The Government, however, ordered that any transfer necessary for dealing with extra ordinary situation (arising out of the floods) will be made only after seeking prior approval of the General Administration Department.
It has asked all Departments to submit compliance report of the order to the GAD within a week’s time positively. The Government Departments were required to submit compliance report that all transfers and postings ordered after September 1 have been kept in abeyance.
The GAD order had specific mention of transfers in School Education Department.
“All transfers/ adjustments/ attachments made by the School Education Department from September 1, 2014, are hereby rescinded. Such transfers/adjustees shall immediately report back to their original places of posting, ” the order said.
“There shall be a complete ban on transfers/postings in the State till further orders. All transfers ordered with effect from September 1, 2014 by different Department except the General Administration Department and those related to the posting of officers/officials in newly created 659 administrative units by other Departments, are hereby kept in abeyance,” the order reads.
It said any transfer the Government feels necessary to deal with the situation arising out of worst ever floods and rains in the Kashmir Valley would be made only after the prior approval of the General Administration Department.
The Civil Secretariat, the seat of the Government, is scheduled to close in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, on October 31 to reopen in Jammu on November 10.
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