| Staff REPORTER |
Itanagar, Mar 11: The State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Arunachal Pradesh Transfer and Posting of Employees of Education Department (Regulation and Management) Bill, 2026 by voice vote after an extensive discussion in the House.
The Bill, introduced by Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona on the opening day of the ongoing five-day Budget session last Friday, aims to create a statutory framework to regulate the transfer and posting of both teaching and non-teaching staff under the state’s Education Department.
Responding to the discussion, Sona appreciated the active participation of members and acknowledged the suggestions placed before the House, which he said reflected their shared commitment for improving the education sector. He said if required, the government may bring necessary amendment to the legislation at a later stage.
Sona informed that various stakeholders, including community-based organisations, NGOs and elected representatives, were consulted during the drafting of the Bill to ensure a more transparent and streamlined transfer and posting system with minimal human intervention.
The minister said the department would work towards rationalising the deployment of teachers to ensure equitable distribution of human resources across the state, particularly in remote and difficult areas. He also informed that punitive provisions have been included for non-compliance with transfer or posting orders, and such instances would be reflected in the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of the concerned employee.
As per the proposed legislation, teachers and employees will also be able to submit self-request transfer applications through an AI-generated Teachers’ Registry Portal. In addition, a government medical board will examine cases related to medical grounds involving transferred employees or their spouses.
Assuring “total transparency” through digital intervention, Sona expressed confidence that with the cooperation of the members, the government would further strengthen the education sector and improve infrastructure across Arunachal Pradesh.
The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill noted that transfers and postings in the Education Department are currently governed mainly through executive instructions, which often lead to inconsistencies, lack of uniform standards and frequent grievances.
The new legislation proposes clear tenure norms, transparent criteria and institutional mechanisms to regulate transfers and postings, while also providing for humanitarian considerations, digital processing and a structured grievance redressal mechanism.
The minister said the enactment of the law would promote fairness, transparency and accountability in the system and help strengthen governance while ensuring stability and continuity in the education sector.
Members cutting across party lines participated in the discussion on the Bill and offered suggestions to make the proposed legislation more effective.
Future of Arunachal begins in classrooms: Khandu
Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the future of Arunachal Pradesh begins in classrooms, as the Assembly passed the Arunachal Pradesh Education Department (Regulation and Management) Bill on Wednesday.
Describing the legislation as a decisive step toward strengthening the education sector, Khandu said the move is aimed at ensuring fair and balanced placement of teachers and staff across the state.
“This isn’t just a policy change; it’s a commitment to our students,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the new system would streamline administrative processes and address long-standing staffing inconsistencies in schools.
He also expressed gratitude to the members for their constructive participation and insightful contributions during the discussion on the Bill.