The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, follows a recent Karnataka High Court judgment in the case involving Excise Deputy Commissioner K. Arun Kumar.
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The Karnataka government has issued fresh guidelines governing the transfer of State government employees, directing departments to ensure that officials are transferred only after being assigned their next posting. The move is aimed at ending the long-standing practice of keeping employees under compulsory waiting without posting them to a new position.
The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), follows a recent Karnataka High Court judgment in the case involving Excise Deputy Commissioner K. Arun Kumar. The court had held that keeping a government servant under compulsory waiting without assigning a posting was contrary to the law.
High Court’s observations
Referring to the High Court’s observations, the government has clarified that, as a general rule, transfer orders should invariably specify the employee’s next posting. It said this would not only safeguard the rights of government employees but also improve administrative efficiency by avoiding delays in filling vacancies and ensuring continuity of work.
The circular noted that, in certain exceptional situations, immediate posting may not be possible. These include cases involving legal disputes, suspension, allegations of financial irregularities, misuse of official position, or serious departmental proceedings.
In such circumstances, employees should not be kept under compulsory waiting for more than one month.
Exceptional circumstances
The guidelines further stated that only in exceptional circumstances can the compulsory waiting period be extended up to a maximum of three months. Such an extension can be granted only after recording reasons in writing and obtaining the prior approval of the Chief Minister.
Published – July 10, 2026 07:30 pm IST
