Karnataka Assembly Passes Bills to Secure School Lands and Overhaul Teacher Transfers

Overview

• The Karnataka Legislative Assembly, which passed both measures Tuesday, moved to secure school land and refocus teacher transfers on classroom posts.
• The land bill deems property used by a government school or pre-university college for 12 years to vest with the state, blocks late legal claims by heirs, creates a short grievance window, and authorizes vesting certificates and a statewide land register to curb encroachment.
• The transfer amendment defines critical posts across flagship Karnataka Public Schools, Adarsha Vidyalayas, PM SHRI schools, and large campuses, and requires those vacancies be filled first.
• It bars shifting teachers into non-teaching roles and brings counselling-based moves with a 12-year service requirement for eligibility and three-year caps in select posts.
• Teachers in the Kalyana Karnataka region must serve 10 years before seeking transfers out, pregnant teachers and those with children under five get priority, and MLAs pressed for transfers to finish before the new term along with fresh recruitment.