DHSK puts strict cap on transfers, only permitted in April

Srinagar, Aug 6: The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) on Tuesday issued circular instructions to put a cap on transfers of the employees within the department throughout the year.

The decision has been taken to streamline operations and ensure the uninterrupted implementation of government schemes and policies in the department.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather said they would receive transfer files throughout the year which was creating impediments in smooth functioning of the department. "So we decided to do way with issuing transfer orders throughout the year. The transfers will be done only once in a year in the beginning of the financial year," Rather told Greater Kashmir.

About the doctors recruited on category basis and now deputed in towns in cities, Director said no such doctor who has been recruited on reserved category basis in far off areas, has been posted in town. "Even we send doctors from towns and cities to remote areas to make our health care system better," he said.

As per the circular instructions, the decision to allow transfers in the first month of the financial year has been taken as per the directives from the General Administration Department (GAD) and the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department.

"Despite of clear cut standing instructions from the General Administrative Department vide Order No. 948-1K(GAD) of 2020, dated October 15 of 2020, and from the Administrative Department, Health & Medical Education, J&K vide No. 16-3K (HME) of 2024, dated July 18 of 2024, the Drawing and Disbursing Officer of this department are still forwarding the cases of employees to this directorate or to the administrative department for their inter cadre deputation on reciprocal basis or for transfer/deputation from one cadre District to the other," the circular reads.

It reads that officers have been seen directly approaching to the Directorate or to the Administrative Department for the transfers "which has been viewed seriously."

"The transfers shall ordinarily be ordered in the first month of financial year, i.e. in April of every year, so far transfer policy notified by the Government vide Order No. 861-GA of 2010, dated July 28 of 2010 is concerned," it reads.  The circular states that the practice of forwarding transfer requests outside the designated period has been deemed unacceptable and is seen as detrimental to the effective functioning of the department.

"Transfers shall strictly be made only within the period notified in the calendar appearing in Para-B of the transfer Policy i.e. in the first month of the financial year (April every Year), as the practice of effecting transfers throughout the year is adversely effecting the implementation on of schemes and polices of the Government," the DHSK circular reads.

The DHSK has "again" impressed upon all the DD0s, officers and officials of the department to desist from forwarding or directly approaching to the Directorate or to the administrative department henceforth for their transfer issues. "The above instructions have to be adhered to in letter and spirit, and any violation by any employee or DDO shall invite strict disciplinary action under rules without any further notice or intimation," the circular reads.