The Opposition members alleged that the district collectors are not following the transfer policy and demanded School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra’s intervention into the matter. Replying to a query during the Question Hour, School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra said, “There are 13, 977 teachers’ posts lying vacant in various high schools in Odisha. The teachers’ transfer policy is being strictly implemented. The teachers are being transferred after getting their consent in special cases.” During the session, the Minister said: “Around 2154 retired teachers were engaged in the schools on ‘Teachers on call’ scheme last year.” “The department secretary would examine in which districts the committee on teachers’ transfer have not convened any meeting,” Mishra said. In a reply to a query on recruitment of lecturers’, Higher Education Minister Dr Pradeep Panigrahi said,” the government would soon recruit lecturers in 13 subjects. However, recruitment in subjects like English and Mathematics is getting delayed due to some cases related to recruitment to these departments is subjudice in the court. On the third day of the winter session of the Assembly, the ruling and opposition members drew the attention of the Minister towards the issue. Soon after the Question Hour, Opposition Congress members created uproar over the absence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the House and targeted the state government. The members demanded chief minister’s presence during important discussions in the House. Following pandemonium, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House till noon. As the House reassembled post noon, the ruling BJD moved a motion on Central apathy towards the state during natural calamities. Amid ruckus, the Speaker again adjourned the House till 3 pm.