Srinagar, June 14: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday announced a fresh transfer policy applicable to staffers of subordinate courts of the twin Union Territories – J&K and Ladakh.
As per the general principles of new policy, the minimum tenure of a staff member on a post or place shall normally be three years. However, at a Hard Station, a staff member hailing from a normal station shall have tenure of one year only.
The order issued by Rajeev Gupta, Principal Secretary to J&K Chief Justice, said that a staff member may be transferred from a post before completion of the tenure of three or one year if there are general complaints against such staff members as to his or her behaviour, competence, integrity or subordination, or when any such staff member is found wanting in performance of duties, or on proved health grounds or if there arises any serious health risk to serve at any such place of posting.
The special provisions enumerated in the policy provides that a staff member shall be permitted to make a representation for his transfer from a place of posting within the parameters of new policy, specifically mentioning the grounds on which transfer or premature transfer is sought.
It added that HC Secretariat may devise a mechanism for seeking preferences of postings in the month of January from those staff members who shall be due to be transferred in the months of April or May for the purposes of transfer and to make an endeavor to effect postings.
As per new transfer policy, physically challenged, ailing or infirm staff members and those who are lactating mothers, shall, subject to availability of posts and the general convenience of the institution, be given convenient postings, as per their preference.
“Presence of any physically challenged, sick or infirm dependent in the family of a staff member shall also be considered appropriately,” it reads.
It further provides that both spouses serving in the Subordinate Courts shall be conveniently placed preferably at the same station.
“A female staff member having a spouse serving in any Government Department may make a request for posting at a place where her spouse is posted,” it added.