PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Provincial Medical Health Services (PMHS) Association has submitted a letter urging the chief secretary of the State to cancel the recent transfer list released by the Medical Health and Family Welfare department. They claimed that the list violates the provisions of the Uttarakhand Annual Transfer of Public Servants Act, 2017.
According to the PMHS officials, in their letter, they explained that upon reviewing the transfer orders recently issued by the department in light of the Uttarakhand Annual Transfer Act, 2017, it is evident that many important statutory provisions have not been properly adhered to. They emphasised that a transfer is neither a right nor a punishment for an employee; it is a legal administrative process. Consequently, each transfer order must be based on specific sections, rules or exceptional provisions outlined in the Act. If different criteria are used under similar circumstances, or if the provisions of the Act are selectively applied, the fairness and transparency of the entire transfer process are called into question.
The officials pointed out 11 major lapses in their representation. They indicated that the Act was not followed in both letter and spirit. None of the transfer orders mentioned the specific section under which they were issued. Further, senior personnel over the age of 55 were transferred, while others in similar circumstances were exempted, which violates the principle of equality. They also alleged a non-uniform application of the couple posting policy and a lack of sensitivity towards officers suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer, multiple myeloma, heart disease and other disabilities. Doctors who have served for years in remote and mountainous areas allegedly did not receive due recognition, and the tenure benefit for service above 7,000 feet was not extended equally. The officials said that additionally, the representation highlights postings that contradict qualifications, with non-clinical doctors assigned to clinical duties and clinical specialists placed in non-clinical roles, among others.
The officials noted that the current transfer list fails to apply uniform criteria to similar circumstances, citing examples involving senior citizens, single parents, deputation posts and transfers nearing retirement, among others.
They requested the government to cancel the current transfer list immediately and issue a new one in strict accordance with the 2017 Act and existing government orders. Each transfer order should clearly State the section of the Act it is executed under. They further called for legal protections for vulnerable categories, including senior citizens, patients with serious illnesses, persons with disabilities, couples, single parents, and those who have completed remote service.
The officials expressed hope that the government would ensure a fair, transparent and lawful transfer system.
