Wed Nov 20 22:41:32 UTC 2024: ## Bihar Government Halts Teacher Transfers Amidst Legal Challenge
**Patna, Bihar – November 21, 2024** – The Bihar government has temporarily suspended its planned teacher transfer policy, pending a High Court ruling and the completion of competency tests for all teachers. The policy, initially slated for December rollout, would have required teachers to submit location preferences.
The decision follows a Patna High Court hearing on November 19th concerning the transfer policy, with the next hearing scheduled for January 21st, 2025. The court has requested a government response. Education Minister Sunil Kumar confirmed the postponement, stating that transfers will only occur after all teachers complete five mandated competency tests.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addressed the issue Wednesday, November 20th, while distributing appointment letters to teachers who passed the first two phases of the competency tests. He emphasized that teachers appointed through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) since 2006 will retain their current postings until the testing process is complete. Approximately 186,818 teachers passed the first phase, and 65,716 passed the second. A further 85,000 teachers still need to take the tests.
The competency tests are designed to grant government employee status to teachers hired prior to direct recruitment via the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) in 2023. While the government previously paid their salaries, their appointments were not officially government positions.
The issue of seniority for these teachers, some of whom have worked up to 18 years, remains unresolved. The government will issue a separate notification regarding their official joining dates, according to Additional Chief Secretary S. Siddharth. A total of 367,143 teachers have been appointed through PRIs and ULBs since 2006 to address a teacher shortage in Bihar’s government schools.
First Piper 