BANihal, August 27: The recent zonal classification of schools in Ramban district, implemented under the new School Education Department Transfer Policy-2026, has ignited concerns among educators. Members of the J&K Plus Two PSC Lecturers Association have formally requested a fresh verification of the categories assigned to various educational institutions across the district.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the lecturers are specifically questioning the accuracy of the zonation process, particularly in the Banihal and Batote regions. They assert that the classification of schools may not adhere strictly to the distance-based criteria outlined in the government’s official order. The association is urging authorities to conduct individual verifications for each school and to rectify any identified discrepancies before the ongoing annual transfer process is further advanced.
The new policy, formalized through Government Order No. 335-JK(Edu) of 2026 issued on August 20, 2026, establishes a comprehensive five-zone system. This system is designed to govern the transfers and postings of teachers and other personnel within the education department.
The policy delineates the zones as follows: Zone-I comprises institutions located within the municipal limits of a district headquarters. Zone-II includes schools situated outside municipal limits but within a 20-kilometre radius. Zone-III covers institutions between 20 and 40 kilometres from the headquarters. Zone-IV is designated for institutions located beyond 40 kilometres, necessitating a change of residence for employees. Finally, Zone-V is reserved for areas classified as difficult.
The core of the lecturers’ appeal lies in the precise application of these distance-based criteria. Representatives of the J&K Plus Two PSC Lecturers Association in Ramban have highlighted that several schools in the district, including those in the vicinity of Banihal and Gool, are situated at significant distances from the Ramban district headquarters. This has led to widespread questioning among employees regarding the adherence to the prescribed distance criteria during the zonal classification.
The association emphasized that their demand is not for preferential treatment but for the uniform and fair application of a consistent yardstick for all institutions and employees. They have formally requested a thorough review of the actual distances of each institution from the municipal limits of the Ramban district headquarters. A school-wise review is sought wherever necessary, with a clear mandate for correction of any identified errors prior to the progression of the transfer process.
The timing of these concerns is particularly relevant given that the School Education Department has already initiated its Online Annual Transfer Drive for 2026. Eligible employees have been provided a window from August 23 to September 8 to submit their transfer applications. Consequently, the participating teachers are keen to ensure that the zonation data underpinning their applications is both accurate and transparent.
The J&K Plus Two PSC Lecturers Association has formally appealed to the School Education Department, the Director School Education Jammu, the Chief Education Officer of Ramban, and other relevant authorities. They have urged these bodies to address the matter with urgency and conduct a meticulous re-examination of the school zonation across Ramban district, ensuring strict compliance with the provisions of Government Order No. 335-JK(Edu) of 2026.
The lecturers articulated that a transparent review at this juncture could preempt potential confusion and prevent situations where employees might later feel that their career progression or transfer prospects were adversely impacted by an inaccurate classification of their current posting.
The association stressed that their concerns are fundamentally rooted in the pursuit of clarity, fairness, and equitable treatment. In a geographically challenging district like Ramban, where difficult terrain and extensive travel distances are inherent aspects of a teacher’s professional life, even minor variations in distance can significantly influence an employee’s personal and professional circumstances.
The association has expressed optimism that the concerned authorities will give due consideration to the perspectives of the teaching community and undertake a transparent, evidence-based review of the school zonation. They maintained that the transfer policy should be implemented with a singular set of rules and a uniform standard for all. Any identified errors in zonation, they insisted, must be rectified promptly to avoid negatively affecting any individual’s transfer prospects.
The lecturers concluded by stating that a transparent, school-wise verification process would not only address the immediate concerns but also serve to bolster confidence in the newly introduced transfer policy, thereby ensuring its consistent and equitable implementation throughout Ramban district and the broader Union Territory.
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