Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh

Haryana government has decided to grant 10 additional points for transfers to unmarried women teachers above the age of 40, following a challenge to the state’s Teacher Transfer Policy-2026 in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The state government informed the High Court that unmarried women teachers above 40 will receive the same benefit as widowed, divorced and legally separated women teachers. The government will amend the transfer policy to ensure eligible teachers are informed about the provision and can claim the additional points.

PGT teacher Surya Maudgil and other teachers had challenged the Teacher Transfer Policy-2026 before the High Court through advocate Sardvinder Goyal.

The petitioners primarily objected to the exclusion of unmarried women teachers above 40 from the provision granting 10 additional transfer points. Under the existing policy, widowed, divorced, judicially separated women and single parents were eligible for the benefit.

The petitioners argued that unmarried women above 40 may also face specific social and family-related challenges and should not be denied the additional points when other categories of women teachers are eligible for the same benefit.

They termed the distinction in the policy unconstitutional, arguing that unmarried women teachers should not be deprived of the benefit merely because a similar provision has not been extended to unmarried male teachers.

The petitioners also cited Article 15 of the Constitution, which permits the state to make special provisions for women, and argued that extending the benefit to unmarried women teachers above 40 would be justified.