Clarification regarding Rule-3 Transfer May-2026 Cycle | DOP No.17-31/2016-GDS (Pt.I) dated 15/06/2026

No.17-31/2016-GDS (Pt.I)

Government of India

Ministry of Communications

Department of Posts

(GDS Section)

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi - 110 001

Date: 15-06-2026

To,

The General Manager,

CEPT Bengaluru,

Bengaluru – 560 001

Subject: Clarification regarding Rule-3 Transfer May-2026 Cycle - reg.

Sir/Madam,

Please refer to your office emails dated 11.06.2026 on the above mentioned subject where clarification was requested for dealing cases where GDS is under disciplinary proceedings after the approval of transfer and cases where the GDS whose transfer were approved in the last cycle but again applying in the current cycle for transfer.

The matter has been examined. The clarification sought with respect to cases where GDS is under disciplinary proceedings is as follow:

(A) Clarification Sought: Whether any restriction to be implemented on the end date of disciplinary proceeding under Rule-3. A detailed guidelines on the entire process for handling these cases may please be provided.

Comments of GDS Section: For a GDS whose transfer is approved but till last date of relieving any disciplinary case is pending against GDS, in such case the GDS should not be relieved and his or her transfer shall be liable for cancellation and such transfer should not be counted as a chance availed. Therefore, no question arise wrt to restricting the end date for reliving the GDS in such cases.

(B) Clarification Sought: Also a few GDS are already under Disciplinary proceedings remark in last cycle. Intimate whether the new guidelines applies to all the GDS of current Rule-3 cycle only or last cycle also.

Comments of GDS Section: As per the data shared by the CEPT under the October-2025 transfer cycle, there were 40 cases where the GDS were not relieved due to disciplinary cases under process. Since the GDS were not relieved, the clarification given for (A) above may also be applied to the case of last cycle.

Therefore, to this effect, we may ask CEPT to add/modify the following rejection remarks for such in last and the current cycle -

"The approved transfer of the GDS is cancelled due to disciplinary case under process"

"The approved transfer of the GDS is cancelled due to disciplinary case under process against the Counterpart GDS" (for mutual transfer cases)

Further, w.r.t. to the list of 9 cases where the relieving and joining of GDS is not completed due to various reasons like maternity/Disciplinary etc. in the October 2025 cycle in APT 2.0 and they are also applying for transfer in the current cycle also without closing the transfer request in old cycle. The following clarification may be seen:

Remarks in October Cycle: NA (No remarks given) | Count: 3 | Clarification: Since, in such cases GDS are not relieved and their transfer will be cancelled by the division in the portal. Such GDS shall be allowed to apply for the transfer. Necessary instructions have been issued to circle vide letter dated 30.04.2026.

Remarks in October Cycle: Maternity Leave | Count: 1 | Clarification: Since for maternity leave cases, instructions had already been issued for reserving the post on which the transfer approved, till the rejoining of the GDS from the leave period. Therefore, such GDS shall not be allowed to reapply in the next cycle. Also, the necessary cooling off period of 1 year will not be completed in such cases. Since, the application window is open till 18.06.2026, some more cases may come, CEPT may share a consolidated list of such applications to concerned circles, so that division may cancel such application during verification and also request circle to relieve such GDS as per transfer approved in the previous cycle, if not done till now.

Remarks in October Cycle: Disciplinary Proceedings under Process | Count: 5 | Clarification: Such GDS shall be allowed to apply and if any disciplinary case is still pending against such GDS, their application is liable for rejection during verification by the division. Meanwhile, the divisions may update the status by rejecting such cases in the portal for previous cycle, if any.

This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.

Yours faithfully,

Gurvinder Singh

Assistant Director General (GDS)

Email: adggds426@gmail.com

Copy to:

All the CPMGs - for information and necessary action.

AD, CEPT - Mysuru and Hyderabad Unit - for information and necessary action.