CHANDIGARH, April 19: The Punjab state transfer policy for 1998-99 bans mid-term transfer of government employees after completions of general transfers within the stipulated time.The new policy, circulated this week to all heads of departments, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and sub-divisional magistrates in the state by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, states clearly: `'No government employee shall be shifted against his consent.``The transfers and postings should normally be ordered only against vacant posts except where these are considered necessary for administrative reasons or on compassionate grounds,'' the four-page policy document says.It lays down that in the case of an employee, gazetted or non-gazetted, due for retirement within two years, he should be allowed to continue at the existing place or the transfer should be within the confines of the very district he serves in.Couples in government service should be retained at one station and in casethe husband of a woman employees works in private sector, she should be posted nearest to his place of posting.The annual transfers in all departments, according to the new guidelines, have to be completed before April 30 under all circumstances. However, transfers and postings in the Education Department get a margin up to July 31; those in the Department of Food and Civil Supplies from May 15 to June 30; Public Works Department from July 1 to July 15 next.While mutual transfers are permissible at the level of the department concerned, no employee are to be transferred against his/her will even if it means filling up of a vacancy created during the period of ban. However, even filling up of such a vacancy shall require the consent of the Chief Minister channelised through the Personnel Department.
