JADAVPUR FACULTY MOBILISES AGAINST BENGAL’S UNIVERSITY TRANSFER PLAN

September 30, 2026

More than 400 teachers from Jadavpur University have urged West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi to withhold his assent to a state legislation permitting the transfer of teaching and non-teaching employees between state-run universities, intensifying opposition within the academic community.

The teachers have raised concerns over the West Bengal Universities and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, passed by the state Assembly on September 10. The legislation provides for inter-university transfers, a measure the government has said could help address staffing shortages and strengthen institutions with limited academic resources.

In their appeal, the Jadavpur University teachers called for the proposed law to be withdrawn, arguing that transferring faculty between separate universities could undermine institutional autonomy, disrupt established academic environments and affect ongoing teaching and research activities.

The educators have also expressed concern that universities have distinct academic traditions, specialised departments and research programmes developed around their existing faculty. They warn that compulsory transfers could disrupt research collaborations, doctoral supervision and projects dependent on specific institutional facilities.

The state government has maintained that the measure is intended to improve the functioning of universities facing shortages by enabling experienced staff to serve where they are needed. However, teachers’ associations across several institutions have questioned whether transfers can resolve structural problems such as vacant posts, inadequate infrastructure and insufficient recruitment.

The appeal to the governor adds to a widening campaign by university teachers and academics seeking to prevent the legislation from taking effect. The governor, who also serves as chancellor of state-aided universities, has been asked to consider the bill’s implications for higher education before deciding on assent.