Jadavpur teachers' body calls Bengal university transfer Bill an attack on autonomy
JUTA criticises West Bengal's planned Bill allowing inter-university staff transfers, calling it an attack on autonomy and job security.
The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) has strongly opposed the West Bengal government's proposal to introduce a Bill enabling the transfer of teaching and non-teaching staff between state universities. The Left-leaning body made its position clear on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, describing the move as a direct assault on the self-reliance of higher education institutions.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Monday that the Bill would be tabled during a special one-day Assembly session scheduled for September 10. The proposed legislation would permit inter-university movement of both academic and administrative employees across the state.
In a statement, JUTA argued that each university operates under its own distinct rules and appointment procedures. Forcing employees to work under entirely different conditions, the association said, would violate principles of natural justice. It also raised concerns that the law could potentially be weaponised against academics who criticise government policies.
The teachers' collective warned that the centralisation of the university system would undermine institutional autonomy, which it said runs contrary to the basic framework established by the University Grants Commission (UGC). JUTA further noted that no comparable transfer model exists in any other state, at the central level, or in foreign university systems.
The association has demanded that no new conditions be imposed on university employees that would contradict their existing terms of employment, stressing the crucial role of faculty in maintaining academic excellence.