The West Bengal government is set to introduce an amendment Bill in the Assembly on Thursday that would allow the transfer of teaching and non-teaching staff between state universities. The proposal will be tabled during a one-day special session of the Assembly after receiving Cabinet approval earlier this week.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has described the proposed legislation as “important and necessary”, saying its passage would be “historic”. Addressing supporters during the Gerua Samman Yatra near Jadavpur University in Kolkata on Wednesday, Adhikari said, “Tomorrow, a historic Bill is going to be passed in the Assembly.” He added that he had sought time to speak on the legislation in the House.
Referring to recent controversies at Jadavpur University, Adhikari said, “I have taken an oath to uproot those who chant the ‘free Kashmir’ slogan and salute Maoist leader Kishenji from Jadavpur University, which is a centre of excellence.”
The proposed West Bengal Universities and Colleges Administration and Regulation Amendment Bill, 2026, would introduce an additional provision under Section 14A of the existing Act.
According to government sources quoted in an Indian Express report, the amendment would empower the state to transfer teaching and non-teaching employees from one state university to another when required. The seniority of transferred employees would remain unchanged, while the state government would bear the expenses associated with the transfers. A senior state administration official said the proposal would extend an existing provision that allows the transfer of teaching and non-teaching staff between colleges under a state university.
The government has argued that the move would help newer universities benefit from the experience of senior faculty members. Explaining the rationale earlier, CM Suvendu Adhikari said, “This Bill is important. There is a ground reality that necessitates it.” He said experienced professors could be transferred to newer universities to help improve infrastructure, academic standards and administration. “Several experienced professors will go to the new universities. They will guide these universities on what the infrastructure should be like, how classes can be conducted and how they can be turned into centres of excellence,” said the Chief Minister.
Suvendu Adhikari also referred to newer institutions in places such as Jhargram and Cooch Behar, saying experienced teachers could facilitate the exchange of human resources.
However, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from teachers’ associations and academics. The Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA) described the move as an attack on institutional autonomy and employees’ job security. “It’s a direct attack on the self-reliance of the universities, and the job security of the employees,” JUTA said in a statement. The association alleged that the government's attempt to centralise the system could weaken university autonomy and go against the principles laid down by the University Grants Commission. “It is against natural justice to force employees to work under a completely new set of conditions,” the association added. JUTA also argued that such a system of transferring teaching faculty between universities does not exist either at the state or Central level.
The proposed legislation comes amid heightened tensions at Jadavpur University, where student groups, including the ABVP and the Left-backed SFI, have clashed in recent weeks.
