Quetta (Syed Sardar Mohammad Khondai): The Balochistan High Court has issued an important order regarding the transfer of teachers and non-teaching staff to Quetta.
The court took notice of concerns about employees who were recruited on a Union Council or district basis but later moved to Quetta. It directed the Education Department to review such Balochistan High Court teachers transfers and restore eligible employees to their original places of posting.
A two-member bench heard the constitutional petition filed against the Director of Schools, Education Department. The bench comprised Chief Justice Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mullakhail and Justice Muhammad Najam-ud-Din Mengal.
Petitioner Khair Muhammad Shaheen told the court that BPS-01 to BPS-15 posts in the Education Department are advertised on a Union Council basis. Meanwhile, BPS-16 and higher posts are advertised on a divisional basis.
The policy aims to provide employment to local residents. It also seeks to ensure that teachers remain available for students in remote and backward areas.
Court Orders Teachers to Return to Original Postings
According to the petition, some employees obtain transfers to Quetta soon after their appointments through various means and recommendations. They are then adjusted in schools, institutions and other departments in Quetta city.
The petition argued that this practice creates serious problems for education in remote districts. When employees leave their original posts, sanctioned positions in backward areas can remain vacant. As a result, local students face a shortage of teachers and educational facilities.
The court directed authorities to review all such transfers, except those approved through individual court orders. It also instructed the Education Department to implement the decision in letter and spirit.
Balochistan High Court Addresses Remote Area Teacher Shortages
The order is particularly significant for remote areas such as Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Loralai, Zhob and Gwadar. Local communities depend on teachers recruited for their respective areas.
The court’s decision seeks to ensure that employees appointed for local and remote areas serve at their original postings, helping schools maintain adequate teaching staff.
