Widowed or abandoned employees must show certificate:MP Health Department sets conditions for transfers; SDM or court certificate mandatory

The transfer policy of Madhya Pradesh’s Public Health and Medical Education Department has sparked discussion after introducing a requirement for widowed and abandoned women employees to submit documentary proof. Under the new provision, women employees seeking transfer under this category will now have to produce a certificate issued by the SDM or a court confirming their status as widowed or abandoned. They will also be required to upload the certificate along with a written affidavit while submitting their online transfer application. In a similar provision, employees—male or female—claiming to be the sole caregiver of a child below 18 years of age must also attach an affidavit or certificate from the SDM or court with their application. Notably, this condition has been introduced only in the Health Department’s transfer policy. In contrast, the School Education Department’s recently issued transfer policy does not require any such documentation; eligible employees only need to tick the relevant option, with no supporting papers required. Other government departments have also not adopted such a requirement so far. This raises the question of why only the Health Department has imposed this additional verification condition.
Department will accept applications only online The Health Department has also clarified that applications for state-level transfers will only be accepted through online mode. For this, the application process will be completed through the e-HRMS portal. According to the new policy, applications for transfers can be submitted from June 8 to June 12. Verification of applications by June 13 The department providing technical and administrative guidance for transfers has also issued instructions to the Chief Medical and Health Officer in every district to open help desks. Officers and employees seeking transfer will be able to apply online at https://hrms.mp.gov.in using their personal eHRMS login ID, registered mobile number, or IFMIS ID. Applicants will have the right to choose a maximum of five locations for transfer. Probationers and those who have not completed three years of service will not be able to apply for voluntary transfer. Verification of applications will be done by June 13. All transfers will be done with the digital signature of the Commissioner, Public Health and Medical Department. The transfer process at the district level will be offline. Submission of medical certificate also necessary The Health Department’s transfer policy also states that in case of serious illness of oneself and serious illness of a family member such as cancer, kidney failure, heart disease, mental illness, it is necessary to provide a certificate from the Medical Board, Civil Surgeon or CMHO. The department has also said that if any employee is found trying to get a transfer through any other means besides online application, disciplinary action will be taken.