Suhail Rather

Bandipora, Feb 19 (KNS): The Chief Education Officer (CEO) of Bandipora on Thursday cancelled the attachments of 34 teachers and directed them to report back to their original place of posting in Education Zone Gurez with immediate effect, days after an audit flagged irregular deployments involving ?5.14 crore.

According to an order issued by the CEO on February 19, the teachers listed in Annexure “A” (Serial No. 1 to 34) were originally appointed in Gurez but had been deployed to other education zones in the district through orders issued from time to time.

The move follows findings by the Principal Accountant General (Audit), Jammu and Kashmir, which pointed to large-scale irregularities in the attachment and detachment of teaching staff in Gurez, including unauthorised deployments and salary payments amounting to ?5.14 crore.

The order stated that the deployments were temporary and, in most cases, for a specified period, and did not confer any vested right on the officials to continue at their deployed stations.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

It said staff rationalisation and administrative review had revealed an acute shortage of teaching staff in their parent zone, affecting the functioning of educational institutions in Gurez.

The teachers have been deemed relieved from their present places of deployment and directed to report to Education Zone Gurez immediately. Non-compliance would invite disciplinary action under relevant service rules, the order said.

The audit had examined Zone Dawar in Gurez and flagged violations of service rules and government instructions regulating attachments, including Government Order No. 975-GAD of 2008 and Circular No. 02-JK(Edu) of 2025, which mandate prior approval from the Administrative Department for such deployments.

Officials said the step is aimed at restoring staff strength and improving the functioning of schools in the remote valley.(KNS).