Haryana sets 10-day deadline for rollout of online transfer policy

With the first online transfer drive under the Model Online Transfer Policy, 2026 scheduled to commence within the next 10 days, Haryana Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi has launched a comprehensive administrative exercise to ensure its smooth implementation.

In a series of high-priority directions issued to Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Boards and Corporations, the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and the Health and Medical Education Departments, the Chief Secretary has ordered time-bound completion of all preparatory activities, including updation of Human Resource Management System (HRMS) records, deployment of online software modules, appointment of nodal officers, expeditious issuance of medical and disability certificates, discontinuation of transfer drives under the repealed 2025 policy and adoption of the new transfer framework by Boards and Corporations.

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The directions follow the notification of the Model Online Transfer Policy, 2026, which has replaced the Model Online Transfer Policy, 2025, with immediate effect. The government has made it clear that all future transfer exercises will be conducted strictly under the provisions of the new policy, which seeks to establish a transparent, objective, technology-driven and merit-based transfer system across government departments.

The Chief Secretary has directed every Administrative Secretary and Head of Department to personally supervise the implementation process and ensure that all preparatory work is completed within the prescribed timelines. Departments have been instructed to appoint or continue designated Nodal Officers and immediately undertake the verification and updating of employee records in the Human Resource Management System (HRMS), including cadre details, dates of joining, tenure, service particulars, and all supporting documents required to determine merit points and eligibility during transfers.

The instructions emphasise that only the information available in HRMS on the qualifying date will be considered for the transfer process, and any omission, incorrect information or failure to update records within the prescribed timeline may adversely affect an employee’s eligibility or merit points.

Recognising that the success of the new transfer mechanism depends upon robust digital infrastructure, the Chief Secretary has directed the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to complete software development, customisation, testing, validation and deployment of all online transfer modules on priority.

The government has set a 10-day timeline for the commencement of the first online transfer drive, making it imperative that all software-related activities be completed without delay. NIC has been asked to designate a senior technical officer, not below the rank of Senior Scientist, as the exclusive project Nodal Officer for six months to oversee software implementation, resolve technical issues and coordinate with the Human Resources Department. A dedicated HRMS login has also been proposed to enable centralised monitoring of online transfer drives across departments.

The Chief Secretary has also clarified that all transfer drives initiated under the repealed Model Online Transfer Policy, 2025 stand discontinued. Any transfer orders not yet issued under the previous policy will not be generated, and all future transfer drives across the notified cadres will be conducted only under the provisions of the Model Online Transfer Policy, 2026.

To ensure that eligible employees are not deprived of benefits under the policy, the Chief Secretary has separately directed the Health Department and the Medical Education and Research Department to facilitate time-bound issuance of Disability Certificates, Unique Disability ID (UDID) Cards and Medical Certificates required for claiming merit under various categories of the transfer policy.

Government Medical Institutions, AIIMS, PGIMER Chandigarh, PGIMS Rohtak and other authorised medical boards have been requested to examine applications on priority and issue certificates, wherever admissible, preferably within three days of receipt of applications, at employees can participate in the online transfer drives without hardship.

The Human Resources Department has also issued detailed guidelines regarding the “Notional Category” for the first online transfer drive under the new policy. Employees appointed initially, promoted, reinstated after suspension, repatriated from deputation, returning from study leave or specifically covered under the prescribed conditions during the notified period will be considered under the Notional Category for the first cadre-wise transfer exercise.

In another significant directive, all Boards, Corporations and other Government organisations have been asked to adopt the Model Online Transfer Policy, 2026, or suitably revise their existing transfer policies on similar lines wherever statutory provisions require a separate framework. The objective is to establish a uniform transfer mechanism based on transparency, objectivity and merit while reducing arbitrariness and avoidable litigation. Organisations have been advised to place the matter before their competent authorities for approval at the earliest and inform the Human Resources Department of the action taken.

The Chief Secretary has further reiterated that the entire transfer process shall be conducted exclusively through the HRMS-integrated online transfer module. No regular transfers or postings of employees belonging to a cadre will be permitted during the online transfer drive. Departments have also been directed not to issue any instructions that are inconsistent with the provisions of the policy, while employees have been cautioned that furnishing false or misleading information or attempting to influence the transfer process by extraneous means will invite disciplinary action.