‘Cosmopolitan Life Alluring, But Transfers Are Necessary,’ Says Bench
The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a petition filed by government doctors opposing their transfers from Bengaluru, remarking that while the city’s cosmopolitan lifestyle is indeed appealing, transfers are a routine part of public service.
A bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran stated there was no unfair treatment involved in relocating the doctors to other regions of Karnataka, which are also well-developed. “The cosmopolitan life of Bengaluru is very alluring. But other areas of Karnataka are also progressing. You belong to a privileged section of society. If you resist transfers, what example does it set for others?” the bench observed.
Doctors Challenge New Transfer Rules
The plea had challenged the Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Medical Officers and other Staff) Rules, 2025, which govern the transfers of health department staff within the state. The doctors argued that they were given only a week to respond to the draft rules and also objected to the inclusion of ‘Greater Bengaluru’ in the final notification — something not mentioned in the draft.
High Court Had Already Refused Relief
Earlier, the Karnataka High Court had declined to stay the implementation of the 2025 rules, noting they were introduced under the powers granted by Section 12 of the Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Medical Officers and other Staff) Act, 2011. The court held that there was no legal requirement for a minimum time gap between the publication and finalisation of draft rules.
