Punjab education dept under fire after fake transfer orders of 57 clerks, operators go viral

In a bizarre case, that has left officials of the Punjab education department red-faced, 57 clerks-cum-data entry operators and sewadars were shifted on the basis of 'fake' transfer orders across many districts.

The matter came to light after the 'fake' transfer orders went viral on social media triggering confusion among employees of the department.

Mistaking these orders for genuine directives, several District Education Officers (DEOs) began implementing the transfers, relocating employees as per the fake instructions.

This prompted the Director of the School Education Department to issue an urgent letter to all DEOs on February 2, warning them against acting on these misleading orders.

On Wednesday, the director highlighted that some DEOs and school heads had already started posting employees at new locations based on the fake orders.

In response, the Director General of School Education (DGSE) has instructed all DEOs and school heads to disregard any transfer orders unless they are officially communicated through designated email channels.

The DGSE further urged officials to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of any such orders before taking action.

Authorities have been directed to prioritise official directives and report any suspicious communication to the concerned department without delay.

The circulation of fake orders has not only caused administrative chaos but also raised concerns about misinformation and its impact on the education department’s operations.

Authorities are actively investigating the source of the fraudulent orders and are expected to take stringent action against those responsible.

Meanwhile, officials and employees have been advised to rely solely on official communication channels and avoid acting on unverified information to prevent further disruptions in the department’s functioning.