PHC demands answer from education dept on e-transfer policy

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday ordered the elementary and secondary education department to respond to a petition filed by several schoolteachers alleging that the e-transfer policy was not being implemented outside of districts.

Abdul Rahim Khan and 44 other male and female teachers serving in various districts filed a petition, and a bench consisting of Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Mussarat Hilali issued letters to the secretary and director of the E&SE department, requesting their answer on the next hearing.

The petitioners wanted the respondents, including the secretary and director, to follow the e-transfer policy in their inter-district transfer in letter and spirit.

Abbas Khan Sangeen, the petitioners' lawyer, stated that the province administration had established a smartphone application in August 2019 for teachers who wanted to be relocated to schools of their choosing.

According to the lawyer, the E&SE department posted a message on the e-transfer policy on its official Facebook page on June 8, 2021.

He went on to say that as a result of the stated post, the petitioners submitted their online petitions, which were then inspected and confirmed.

Except for the petitioners and a few other instructors, the counsel stated that transfer orders were issued to a number of other teachers.

According to him, computer produced suggestions of petitioners' transfers had been issued in accordance with the e-transfer policy mechanism, but the E&SE's secretary was hesitant to do so.