Chennai: The prison department has constituted a board to regulate transfers and postings of personnel from Grade II wardens to jailers, in a move aimed at streamlining administrative processes and addressing concerns raised by staff over recent transfer exercises.The initiative seeks to address issues relating to postings, manpower deployment, administrative requirements, prison population, workload, and vigilance or disciplinary considerations.The four-member Prison Establishment Board (PEB), headed by the Inspector General of Prisons (HQ), will meet once every two months to examine matters relating to transfers and postings of prison personnel. The move comes after prison staff submitted representations to DGP of Prisons and Correctional Services Sandeep Rai Rathore, who recently assumed office.According to department sources, around 500 personnel, ranging from Grade I warders to jailers, were transferred under orders issued last year, leaving many of them disgruntled. In one such order dated May 27, 2025, 176 chief head warders were transferred, posting them to prisons located far from their existing place of service. “Personnel working in northern district transferred to prisons in down south,” said assistant jailor, who was one among them. Since the transfer orders came towards the end of May, the transferred personnel had to face multiple issues including admission for their children due to relocation.“The personnel as well as their families suffered immensely,” an official said.The official noted that some of the staff, aged above 50 years, had even opted for voluntary retirement unable to handle the pressure due to the transfers.Prison department sources said the newly constituted board would provide a formal mechanism for personnel to raise grievances relating to transfers and postings. In addition to transfer-related matters, the board will examine issues connected to prison administration. However, the recommendations of the board will be subject to the approval of the DGP of Prisons and Correctional Services, who will take the final decision, said an officer.
