Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: The controversial transfer of a teacher from Government Primary School (GPS) Ziltawadi, Gaondongrim, has taken a fresh turn after details obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application revealed the role of a ministerial note in initiating the move, triggering strong political backlash in Canacona.
Opposition leaders have alleged that the RTI reply has “proved their accusations right”, accusing Canacona MLA and Minister for Tribal Welfare, Sports & Youth Affairs and Art & Culture, Ramesh Tawadkar, of misusing his position and engaging in “revenge politics”. They have gone to the extent of branding him a “Minister for Transfers”.
According to documents attached to the RTI reply by the Public Information Officer of the Education Department, Minister Tawadkar wrote a note dated November 26, 2025, to Chief Minister and Education Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, seeking the immediate transfer of Smt Sukanti T. Velip from GPS Ziltawadi. The note bears the endorsement “May consider” by the Chief Minister and was received by the Directorate of Education on November 28.
The RTI papers further show that the file was processed on the same day with unusual speed. Two cases were clubbed together — Case I pertaining to Smt Velip and Case II involving another teacher from Government High School, Surla (Bicholim). The file moved rapidly through various levels, with multiple endorsements made on November 28 itself. The transfer order, however, was reportedly received at the ADEI office only on December 5, seven days after it was issued.
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of GPS Ziltawadi and opposition leaders have alleged that the transfer order was backdated to bypass the Model Code of Conduct, which came into force on November 29, 2025, ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections.
The issue sparked intense protests after the teacher was informed of her transfer on Saturday, December 6. Shocked parents and students refused to attend classes and staged a sit-in outside the school. The PTA also wrote to the Returning Officer of Khola-22 and Poinguinim-23 constituencies.
The agitation intensified over the next few days, with PTA members submitting a memorandum and protesting at the ADEI Canacona office. On Wednesday, an unprecedented scene unfolded when students of GPS Ziltawadi occupied the ADEI office premises, while parents stood outside. Several exhausted children were seen sleeping on the office floor, prompting the authorities to finally withdraw the transfer order.
Several opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Janardhan Bhandari, Gaspar Coutinho and Ursila D’Costa, and Goa Forward Party leaders Prashant Naik, Isidore Fernandes, Mohandas Lolienkar, Vikas Bhagat and Shubham Komarpant, came out strongly in support of the teacher.
Goa Forward leader Isidore Fernandes alleged that the transfer was punitive and aimed at targeting a “dedicated and honest” government primary teacher. Congress leader Janardhan Bhandari linked the controversy to a cultural programme organised by the Department of Art & Culture at the GPS Ziltawadi premises a fortnight earlier.
According to Bhandari, during preparations for the programme, four iron poles from the permanent school stage were allegedly cut and removed but not refitted despite repeated requests. Smt Velip, who was serving as in-charge headmistress, reportedly brought the damage and unauthorised alterations to the notice of the ADEI — a step her supporters say was part of her official duty as custodian of the school.
Opposition leaders claim this complaint angered the minister, who allegedly reprimanded the teacher for raising objections against his department. They further allege that the organisers of the programme persuaded the minister to initiate her transfer, following which a note was routed through his office to the Education Ministry.
Following the dramatic protests at the ADEI office last week, the Department of Education withdrew the transfer order, effectively closing the episode. Notably, while the students’ agitation was underway, the iron poles that had been removed earlier were replaced on the school stage by the programme organisers.
