Bangalore: The Minister’s assurance comes after observation by the Karnataka High Court that the rules should be teacher-friendly and spouses serving at different locations should be brought together.

Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar on Thursday said the department would give priority to about 46,000 teachers, including 17,000 teacher couples during the next transfer season.

Speaking to presspersons here, Mr. Ratnakar said the department has to bring out an enactment or an ordinance to exempt these transfer cases from the purview of Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Teachers) Rules, 2007. The rules prescribe maximum cap on the number of teachers to be transferred through counselling and by no other means.

The Minister’s assurance comes after observation by the Karnataka High Court that the rules should be teacher-friendly and spouses serving at different locations should be brought together. Mr. Ratnakar said the department would attempt to bring couple teachers together in the same district.

At the same time, there are thousands of teachers who were not transferred to places of their choice for several years despite attending counselling. The department has made a list of such teachers, who would be given priority during the next transfer, he said.
Recruitment

Mr. Ratnakar said the Finance Department has already given a nod for the recruitment of about 11,500 primary and high school teachers, including 927 physical education teachers.  The recruitment process was stalled for the finalisation of rules under Article 371(J) for the Hyderabad Karnataka region, he said.

Once the rules are finalised, the department hopes to complete the recruitment process by June this year. Finance Department’s concurrence is also sought to fill the remaining vacancies, the Minister added. Asked about opening of new schools, Mr. Ratnakar said there is a demand to open abut 500 high schools and 350 PU colleges. The exact number would be known after the budget on Friday.