Despite orders, teachers remain deployed outside schools; SED issues stern warning

Srinagar, May 22: The repatriation of the teaching staff of schools deployed and attached in other government department has thrown up a major challenge for the School Education Department (SED) to utilise services of its human resource effectively.

Despite repeated orders and circular instructions from the Administrative department regarding repatriation of teachers to schools, the deployment of staff continues.

The School Education Department (SED) has taken a serious note of the poor implementation of the orders district level citing that the "uninformed practice" of deployment of staff of SED to other departments has left the department disarrayed.

In an official communication addressed to all the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of Kashmir division, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has 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 fresh official communication reads.

The DSEK has stated that despite government instructions, staff of the education department were being assigned various jobs by district administration.

"You are accordingly advised to ensure the compliance of the circular in letter and spirit. Any teaching or non-teaching staff presently working in any other office without proper authorisation from the Directorate or Administrative Department shall be immediately called back and directed to resume their duties at original place," the official communication reads.

The DSEK has warned that in case of failure to do so, the concerned DDOs shall not release their salary till further orders and shall initiate action as warranted under J&K Civil Service Regulations, 1956.

"Further, you (CEO) are also advised that if any requirement has been 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," the official communication reads.

Similarly, the Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) has also taken serious note of teaching and non-teaching employees of SED working in offices other than the education department without prior approval of the competent authority.

"This uninformed practice of deployment of staff of SED to other departments has left the department disarrayed specially at the time when the department is already facing the problem of shortage of staff, leaving schools understaffed and underperformed," reads an order issued by DSEJ.

"Government has recently issued instructions for restricting the utilisation of services of such staff in departments other than SED," the order reads.

The DSEJ has ordered that pursuant to the directions of the Administrative Department and in order to meet out the acute deficiency of staff and smooth functioning of ensuing academic session in the schools of winter and summer Zone, all the staff members attached or deployed in office outside the jurisdiction of SED without proper approval of the competent authority be recalled with immediate effect.

"The concerned DDO shall personally ensure that all such staff members report back to their respective places of posting and resume academic, allied  duties," the order reads.

The DDOs has been asked not to withdraw salary in favour of any such employee who fails to report back to his/her original place of posting.

"DDOs shall ensure that salary in case of these employees is released only after examining the proper Biometrie or facial attendance records duly marked at their original place of posting-schools," it reads.

As per the order, all the CEOs of Jammu division have been directed to identify such delinquent officials who fall to join duties at their original place of posting and initiate disciplinary action against them.

"Action taken report be submitted to this Directorate by or before May 30 of 2025," it reads.