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Neelam Rawat ...Petitioner
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State of Punjab and others ...Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present: Mr. Prince Goyal, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Karunesh Kaushal, AAG, Punjab for the respondents with Mr. Sakatar Singh Bal, Director of School Education, Punjab.
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KULDEEP TIWARI, J.(ORAL)
Through the instant writ petition, prayer is made for issuance of a direction, upon the respondents to allow the petitioner to join, as per the order dated 27.06.2026 (Annexure P-5), passed by the Director of School Education (Secondary), Punjab (respondent No.2).
In the instant case, the respondent/department, in order to carry out the general transfers for the year 2026, vide public notice dated 04.05.2026 (Annexure P-3), had invited online applications of all eligible employees, to be considered for transfer. The petitioner duly applied for her transfer, and her request was accepted, vide order dated 27.06.2026 (Annexure P-5), whereby, she was ordered to be transferred from ML Puri School of Eminence, Mullanpur Garibdas, SAS Nagar to School of Eminence, CWP-204566-2026 2 3B1, Mohali, SAS Nagar. Thereupon, she was relieved from the duty on 01.07.2026 (Annexure P-6), so that she can join at the place of posting. However, when she went to the transferred place of posting, she was not allowed to join in the said school by respondent No.4, citing that no post is vacant there.
Learned counsel for the petitioner has raised various issues citing various lapses in the transfer policy, in question.
This Court has already considered this aspect in CWP-9706-2026 titled ‘Aashish Kalra vs. State of Punjab and others’ wherethrough, a bunch of petitions, were decided on 17.08.2026, and the same were disposed of with hereinafter directions :-
During the course of hearing, which has encompassed manifold dimensions of the grievances, the Secretary, Department of School Education, fairly admits that the Policy in question, indeed, warrants comprehensive re-examination. Further, she fairly submits that, in fact, the Policy ought to be devised to address all such issues, which may possibly invite the attention of the State Government.
In the wake of the abovesaid conceded position, and having regard to the far-reaching consequences, which a large number of employees across the State may face, this Court, at this stage, deems it appropriate to refrain from adjudicating the matter on merits, enabling the authorities concerned to set right the anomalies, at the first instance. Accordingly, on the basis of the fair stand set out on behalf of the respondent-State, as narrated above, the present petitions are disposed of, with the following directions:-
The Secretary, Department of School Education, Punjab, shall constitute a Committee to CWP-204566-2026 3 re-examine the Policy in question in all aspects, including the issues, as demonstrated above, with a view to rectify the anomalies and ensuring complete transparency, thereby, leaving no discretionary powers with the authorities concerned to be exercised arbitrarily, within a period of three months from today.
The Secretary, Department of School Education, Punjab, shall also constitute a separate Committee, within two weeks from today, which, after hearing all the stakeholders, including the petitioners, shall pass a speaking order qua every petitioner, thereby addressing his/her grievance, within a period of eight weeks from today.
In view of the above, the instant writ petition is also disposed of in the above terms. The petitioner shall file a specific representation with the Secretary, Department of School Education, Punjab, who, on receipt of such representation, shall constitute a Committee, in view of the directions (supra), and thereupon will take necessary action.
However, in the event of default in compliance of the hereinabove directions within the stipulated period, the petitioner is at liberty to move an apt application for revival of the instant petition.
(KULDEEP TIWARI)
JUDGE August 20, 2026 Manpreet Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No