The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the transfer of Agriculture Extension Officer Kuldeep Singh, which was ordered after the conclusion of the general transfer process. Kuldeep Singh had been transferred from the Kahnuwan block in Gurdaspur to the Samrala block in Ludhiana—a distance of over 155 kilometers.
Reprimanding the Punjab government, the Court stated that the government had failed to adhere to its own transfer policy and that employees should not be compelled to unnecessarily approach the court.
**No Valid Reason for Kuldeep Singh’s Transfer**
During the hearing, Justice Sandeep Moudgil clarified that under the Punjab government’s transfer policy dated April 23, 2018, the general transfer process had concluded on June 30, 2026. Transfers made after this date fall under the category of “mid-term transfers.” The policy outlines specific, limited circumstances for mid-term transfers, such as promotion, retirement, departmental restructuring, an employee’s death, resignation, dismissal, long leave, deputation or suspension, court orders, and mutual transfers.
The Court observed that the order issued on August 25 cited no valid reason for Kuldeep Singh’s transfer that fell within the circumstances prescribed by the policy. He was transferred to replace Simrandeep Kaur, the Agriculture Extension Officer posted at Samrala. Deeming this legally flawed, the Court took into account the hardship caused to the petitioner. **Assurance Given by the State Government**
It also emerged during the hearing that Simrandeep Kaur had assumed charge at Samrala on March 2, 2026, after returning from maternity leave. The Court remarked that transferring Kuldeep Singh while the concerned officer was on maternity leave was inappropriate.
The High Court has stayed Kuldeep Singh’s transfer pending the outcome of the petition. The state government assured that future mid-term transfers would be carried out strictly in accordance with the circumstances stipulated in Clause 3 of the policy. The court has directed that a copy of the order be sent to the Chief Secretary of Punjab. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for September 30.
