Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav has written to Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, seeking a review of the ongoing transfer process for teachers of Urdu, Arabic and Persian.
Yadav alleged that teachers of these subjects have faced discriminatory and irregular treatment during the transfer exercise. He called for an impartial review and cancellation of transfers found to have been made in violation of rules.
Single Teachers Listed As ‘Surplus’
According to Yadav’s letter, complaints have been received from teachers alleging that even the sole teacher of Urdu, Arabic or Persian in a school has been declared ‘surplus’ and included in the transfer list.
He said transferring the only teacher of a subject could affect the availability of that subject for students at the school.
The RJD leader also raised concerns over the reported abolition or declaration as ‘surplus’ of sanctioned posts for Urdu, Arabic and Persian, including in schools with adequate student enrolment.
He further alleged that the transfer lists include teachers with less than five years of service, contractual teachers and some teachers who had been transferred recently.
Yadav described the reported discrepancies as an issue of transparency and fairness in the transfer process.
Call For Equal Status For Urdu And Sanskrit
Yadav said Urdu, like Sanskrit, is part of India’s shared cultural heritage and should receive equal treatment from the government.
He called for a policy to ensure the availability of Urdu and Sanskrit teachers in government schools and for both subjects to receive equal academic importance.
Salaries Pending In Aided Institutions
Yadav also raised the issue of pending salaries for teaching and non-teaching employees of aided madrasas and Sanskrit schools.
He said complaints had been received about salary arrears of around five to six months. According to the letter, prolonged non-payment has affected employees’ ability to meet household expenses and provide for education and healthcare.
Eight Demands
Yadav has sought eight measures from the state government:
- An independent review of the current ‘surplus’ and transfer lists for Urdu, Arabic and Persian teachers.
- Cancellation of transfers found to have violated applicable rules.
- An immediate halt to declaring the only teacher of a particular subject in a school as ‘surplus’.
- Protection of sanctioned posts for Urdu, Arabic and Persian teachers from arbitrary abolition.
- Re-examination of cases involving teachers with less than five years of service, contractual teachers and recently transferred teachers.
- A clear policy to ensure the availability of Urdu and Sanskrit teachers in government schools.
- Immediate release of outstanding salaries for teaching and non-teaching staff in aided madrasas and Sanskrit schools.
- Fixing accountability for officials responsible for discrepancies in the transfer process and action against those found responsible.
Yadav urged the chief minister to direct the concerned department to take clear and time-bound action.
He also called for equal treatment of languages and teachers, saying administrative decisions should not affect students’ access to education.
