Masters rue second time posting in Hard Zone area of Kupwara district

Srinagar, Aug 5: The masters from north Kashmir Kupwara district have complained that the department has transferred them to the very hard zones (Zone 5) of the district despite completing one term in the area.

The masters said they were subjected to mental trauma by the department by shifting them to Very Hard zones of the district.

Notably such grievances come to fore at a time when the department is rotating some influential masters and lecturers from SCERT to DIETs and to different cells of Directorate irrespective of their tenures.

"We had already served hard zone as master grade for two years. Recently we were again transferred by the department Kupwara to these zones vide order issued in May 17 of 2025," a aggrieved master complained to Greater Kashmir.

He said the department pushes the teaching staff to these areas for having no influence in power corridors.

"Currently we are facing several domestic issues and this was the reason we preferred to serve in very hard zones in the past. We thought we will serve in normal zones now but unfortunately we have become the victims during the transfers of masters," a master said.

According to the masters, the father of one of their colleagues passed away in February this year and his mother was ailing as well.

"He has no one to take care of his old mother. We represented our case to CEO Kupwara in the past and he recommended it for modification from the Directorate. But since May 23 of 2025 our file is gathering dust at the Directorate," the masters said.

The masters said that they are victimised for prioritizing their duties over visiting offices. The masters who are close to officers and politicians are always posted as per their conveniences but we being student centered are punished," they said.

The masters said they were not against the transfers but posting again in Very Hard Zones was unfair with them as they already served in hard zones.

"I have served in Ladakh for two years from 2011 to 2013. Other masters served in Jumagand from from 2014 to 2016. Some of us served in Keran and Karna from 2019 to 2022 but we have again been sent to hard zones," the masters said.

Despite repeated attempts, Minister for Education Sakina Itoo and Director School Education Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Itoo were not available for their comments on the issue.