MP to remove underperforming staff under new transfer policy:Transfers allowed till June 15, relief for women and retirees

The Madhya Pradesh government has issued its Transfer Policy 2026. Introducing a major change, the government has decided that officers and employees who fail to achieve their assigned targets can be transferred on administrative grounds as a priority. Such employees may be included in transfer lists even before completing the standard three-year tenure. Following Cabinet approval, the General Administration Department (GAD) issued orders allowing departments to carry out transfers between June 1 and June 15. Relief has been provided to women employees and those nearing retirement. Transfer can happen even before three years Under the new policy, Class I and Class II executive officers may be transferred outside a district after completing three years in the same district. Similarly, Class III employees may be transferred after serving three years or more at one posting. However, the government has clarified that completion of three years will not be a mandatory condition for transfer. If an officer or employee has failed to meet the prescribed targets for the previous financial year, they may be transferred even before completing the stipulated tenure. Such cases will be given priority on administrative grounds. Ban on Chain Transfers for Vacant Posts The government has also directed departments that, except for construction-related and regulatory departments, transfers should not be based solely on completion of three years at a posting. Transfers may also be carried out under the prescribed procedure in cases involving court orders, serious complaints, filling vacant posts, promotions and return from deputation. However, chain transfers aimed at filling vacant posts will not be permitted. Provision for posting women in their home district The new policy provides relief to women employees and those approaching retirement. Unmarried, widowed, divorced and abandoned women may be posted in their home districts. Employees with one year or less remaining before retirement will generally not be transferred under normal circumstances. Applications for posting husband and wife at the same location Applications seeking posting of husband and wife at the same location will be accepted, although the final decision will depend on administrative requirements. Requests for transfers at personal expense or mutual transfers will be accepted online or after verification by the head of office. Relief for employees suffering from serious illnesses Employees suffering from serious illnesses have also been granted relief. Transfers may be approved in cases involving cancer, dialysis and open-heart surgery based on recommendations from the district medical board. Employees with disabilities of 40% or more will generally not be transferred, although transfers may be considered if requested by the employee. Relief for office-bearers of employee organisations Office-bearers of recognised employee organisations will receive exemption from transfers for two terms, equivalent to four years. The policy also provides for the immediate removal of employees from relevant posts if they are prima facie found guilty in cases involving financial irregularities, embezzlement or misuse of government funds. All Transfer Orders Will Be Issued Online All transfer orders will be issued online. Any order issued through the e-office system after June 15 will be treated as invalid and will not be implemented. It will be mandatory to mention the employee code used in the treasury system in all transfer orders. Officers facing inquiries not to be posted on executive positions The new policy also states that officers and employees facing criminal cases involving moral turpitude will not be posted to executive positions. Similarly, employees against whom departmental inquiries are pending will not be assigned executive posts. All transfer orders will be issued online through the offices of Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries and Heads of Departments. Orders issued through e-office after June 15 will be treated as outside the prescribed transfer period and will be considered null and void. It will be mandatory to mention the treasury employee code in all transfer orders. Once an employee is transferred, salary disbursement from the previous place of posting will be stopped. Any salary drawn thereafter will be treated as a financial irregularity. Transferred employees will be eligible for leave only after joining their new place of posting. Separate mechanism for representations and cadre matters Representations against transfer orders issued by Collectors, departmental officers, Conservators of Forests and Superintendents of Police will be decided by the Head of Department with approval from the concerned minister. In the case of Class I officers, the Chief Secretary will take a decision with the approval of the Chief Minister. Cases involving other categories of employees will be decided with the approval of the departmental minister. Transfers of district cadre employees and State cadre Class III and Class IV employees within a district will be carried out through the Collector after approval from the minister in charge. Transfer orders for Class I officers will be issued only with the approval of the Chief Minister. Separate arrangements for the Police Department In the Police Department, decisions regarding postings of officers and employees below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) will be taken by the Police Establishment Board. Postings within a district will be made by the Superintendent of Police after obtaining approval from the minister in charge. Transfers of Deputy Superintendents of Police and officers above that rank will be carried out only after approval from the departmental minister and the Chief Minister.