Audit Exposes Illegal Teacher Deployments from Staff-Starved Gurez Schools

 Despite Surplus Staff, 128 More Teachers Moved to Sumbal Without Approval

Convener News Desk

Srinagar, Feb 17: Principal Accountant General (Audit) Jammu and Kashmir has flagged large-scale irregularities in the attachment and detachment of teaching staff in Gurez Zone of Bandipora district, pointing to unauthorised deployments and salary payments amounting to ₹5.14 crore, even as schools in the remote valley continue to face acute staff shortages.

The findings relate to Zone Dawar only in Gurez, one of the most isolated education zones in the valley. As per the audit report dated August 9, 2025, against a sanctioned strength of 479 teaching posts, only 412 are filled, leaving 64 vacancies.

Despite this shortfall, 26 teachers were found to be attached to offices outside their original place of posting.

The audit notes that 10 of the 26 teachers were deployed without formal government orders. In these cases, attendance was shifted and salaries continued to be drawn from the government treasury, in contravention of existing service rules.

Government Order No. 975-GAD of 2008 and subsequent circulars mandate that attached employees must be relieved and repatriated to their parent departments, and any fresh attachment requires prior approval from the Administrative Department. Treasury officers are barred from releasing salaries without proper authorisation.

According to the audit, these provisions were not adhered to.

Among the cases cited is that of Ms. Nilofer Nisar, Teacher Grade-II, who was deputed to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer Srinagar for two months. Her attachment, however, was extended till September 2025 without approval from the School Education Department Jammu and Kashmir.

In another instance, Mr. Mudassir Wahab Lone, Teacher Grade-II, has remained attached to the Election Cell at the Mini Secretariat Bandipora since March 8, 2021 — over four years — without administrative sanction, the report states.

The deployments were found to be in violation of Circular No. 02-JK(Edu) of 2025 dated April 16, 2025, which directs Deputy Commissioners to strictly regulate deployment of teaching and non-teaching staff to maintain institutional stability.

The audit observes that the irregular attachments have had a direct impact on school functioning in Gurez. Several institutions are operating with minimal staff, with existing teachers handling multiple classes and subjects.

In remote villages, where access is already constrained by terrain and weather, the shortage has reportedly disrupted academic delivery and increased the burden on available staff.

Education officials familiar with the matter said the findings expose a systemic gap between sanctioned posts and actual teacher availability in far-flung areas. “When teachers are moved out without due process, students in these regions are the first to suffer,” an official said.

With ₹5.14 crore already released towards such attachments, the audit has recommended adherence to service rules and corrective action to restore sanctioned strength in schools.

         Locals said due to the illegal deputations, the Pupil-Teacher Ration (PTR) has been badly hit. “Instead of cancelling the deputations, the axe falls on the teachers of other zones who are forcibly deputed to these schools to meet the scarcity of teachers,”

Official sources in Bandipora stated that Audit report has highlighted the pathetic condition of Zone Dawar Only while the similar precedence is rampant in other zones also.

         In a shocking revelation, as many as 128 teachers have been illegally shifted from already staff starved schools to Sumbal Zone. Official sources reveal that 76 teachers from Quil Muqam zone , 34 teachers from Bandipora zone and 18  teachers from Hajin zone have been deployed to Schools of Sumbal zone bordering Srinagar District without any formal approval.

“Teachers manage to get themselves deputed to schools that are easily assessable to them while the schools in tribal areas have been left high and dry to the mercy of few teachers,” locals said

Owing to the situation, Sumbal zone has got a surplus staff while the  other zones are facing staff shortage affecting PTR drastically especially in tribal areas.

Locals said that instead of addressing the root cause of the problem, the entire responsibility of maintaining academic outcomes is being unfairly thrust upon teachers.

Educationists believe this growing disparity is one of the fundamental reasons behind the steady decline in primary-level education standards in far-flung areas. “This issue has persisted for years without meaningful intervention from the district administration,” said noted educationist Mohammad Mudasir Shah.

         Concerned citizens and parents have now appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister Sakina Itoo and Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Indu Kanwal Chib to take urgent and concrete steps to streamline teacher deployment and restore balance in staffing especially in remote and tribal villages. They stressed that timely intervention is essential to ensure smooth teaching-learning processes at the primary and middle school levels, particularly in underserved and tribal regions.