Govt bans inter-cadre transfers, deputations

JAMMU: To overcome the political pressure for giving postings of choices to well connected officials, the Jammu and Kashmir has put a complete ban of inter-cadre transfers of all natures.
Even though such a ban was already in vogue through an executive order in 2004 which was later reiterated in 2009 but the inter-cadre transfers have been on a rampant scale. The government has ordered for a strict ban on all such transfers in future but there is no mention on the repatriation of such officials who are already on inter-cadre deputations.
It was Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government which had taken the bath-breaking decision of banning the inter-cadre transfers. The Mufti government had banned deputations in wake of intense pressure from the Ministers since it was a coalition government and most of such requests were acceded to. Later, in 2009, the Omar Abdullah government had also reiterated ban in such inter-cadre deputations.
A circular issued Wednesday by the General Administration Department said, “In continuation of Circular No. 48-GAD of 2009 dated 23.11.2009, it is again enjoined upon all the Administrative Secretaries and the Heads of Departments to adhere to the provisions contained in SRO 343 of 2004, and not to issue any order transferring employees from one District or Divisional Cadre to another District or Divisional Cadres.
Inter-cadre deputations are most prevalent in Revenue, Education and Health departments. In Education department and Revenue department the teacher and Patwari is the district level post but most of the incumbents manage their inter-cadre transfers to the other districts, mainly in the capital districts of Jammu and Srinagar in pursuit of social advancement of their families.