Himachal Pradesh Government Eases Transfer Restrictions for Employees
The Himachal Pradesh government has taken a significant step to address employee mobility concerns. On Tuesday, the state administration officially lifted the existing ban on general transfers for Group C and Group D employees. This decision opens a window for eligible officials to seek transfers until March 31 of this year.
Key Details of the Transfer Policy
According to official instructions issued by the Department of Personnel, ministers now hold the authority to approve transfers for qualified Group C and Group D staff within their respective departments during this specified period. The government has communicated this directive to all administrative secretaries, heads of departments, divisional commissioners, and deputy commissioners across the state.
The government emphasizes that all transfers must strictly follow the Comprehensive Guiding Principles (CGP) of 2013, as amended over time. A core requirement is that officials must have completed their normal three-year tenure at their current posting before becoming eligible for transfer. Ministers-in-charge can only approve transfers for employees who meet this tenure criterion.
Specific Conditions and Limitations
The new instructions impose clear limits to prevent excessive movement. Transfers should be kept to an absolute minimum and cannot exceed three percent of the sanctioned cadre strength in any department. Department heads, managing directors, chief executive officers, and registrars bear the responsibility for ensuring compliance with this cap.
In special cases where officials seek relaxation from norms related to short stays or short distances, prior approval from the Chief Minister becomes mandatory. Such requests must be routed through the concerned minister-in-charge, following the provisions outlined in CGP-2013.
Direct Application Process and Compliance
In a move to streamline procedures, the government has also permitted employees to submit transfer applications directly to their respective departments. All departments have received orders to inform relevant officials about these new instructions and ensure strict adherence.
The detailed notification, issued by Deputy Secretary (Personnel) Niraj Kumar on behalf of the state government, is publicly available on the Department of Personnel's official website. This policy shift specifically excludes teaching cadres from the Education and Technical Education departments, maintaining separate protocols for educators.
