Deployment of Education Department employees for non-teaching assignments creates row

Srinagar, Aug 16: The deployment of teachers in other government departments to take up non-teaching assignments has once again come to fore as some Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have issued fresh deployment orders.

The move has left the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) and Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) in a dilemma whether to comply with the orders of the DCs or the School Education Department.

Few days ago, some DCs ordered deputation of the employees of various government departments, including the education department, to the office of their concerned Tehsildars for the digitisation of land records. The move comes months after the School Education Department (SED) issued strict orders for repatriation of the teaching staff of schools deployed and attached in other government departments.

Instructions were issued to the CEOs to utilise services of the teaching and non-teaching staff effectively.

The education department in its orders issued in April stated that the “uninformed practice” of deployment of staff of SED to other departments has left the "department disarrayed."

Also, Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in an official communication to all the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of Kashmir division, said that the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) were given instruction to restrict the deployment and attachment of teaching and non-teaching in their offices, to maintain stability, fairness and the effective functioning of the educational institutions in all the districts of the J&K.

“In case of requirement of staff, the matter should be referred to the designated authority- Directorate of School Education and the Administrative Department,” the official communication issued by DSEK reads.

CEOs were advised that if any requirement was raised by any Deputy Commissioner or any other office, the same may be processed and forwarded to the Directorate, in a time bound manner, for consideration.

However, some DCs have again ordered deployment of teachers and non-teaching staff to the office of Tehsildars following which Tehsildars have issued instructions to the ZEOs to ensure compliance to the orders issued by the DCs.

"We are in a dilemma whether to obey orders of the Administrative Department or Deputy Commissioners and Tehsildars. We have strict orders not to allow deputation of teachers and non teaching staff to any other government department," one of the ZEOs told Greater Kashmir, who wished not to be named.

Amid the dilemma, the SED has taken a note of the issue and asked the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) not to relieve any teacher till concurrence is sought from the Directorate.

"Recently, some DCs and some subordinate officers have issued orders whereby non teaching assignments have been given by them. This unilateral approach is a violation of government order issued on this subject in the recent past," reads a communication issued to all CEOs of Kashmir division. The CEOs have been asked to apprise the district administration particularly new DCs. "Meanwhile, no such employee shall be relieved till concurrence from the Directorate," the message reads. Further, the CEOs across Kashmir division have circulated similar instructions to the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) for compliance.