Faculty members of JD Women’s College in Patna staged a protest march against the proposed affiliation of their institution with Mata Sita Women’s University, demanding the repeal of the Bihar Special Universities Act, 2026. The teachers said the proposed changes could affect their existing service conditions and sought to retain the college’s affiliation with Patliputra University.According to PTI, the protest march began at JD Women’s College and was intended to end at Lok Bhavan, where the faculty members planned to submit their demands. However, police detained several protesters midway, citing concerns over public disorder and traffic disruption.Patna Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kritika Mishra said the administration had spent hours trying to persuade the protesters to submit their demands through an appropriate forum before the detentions took place. She added that the situation was under control and officials were assessing the number of people detained.
Why JD Women’s College teachers are opposing the proposed affiliation
The faculty members said their opposition was not directed at Mata Sita Women’s University itself, but at the proposed transfer of their college from Patliputra University to the new institution.Meenu Gupta, a faculty member in the Department of Botany at JD Women’s College, said the teachers wanted the college to continue under Patliputra University. They maintained that any change in the affiliation framework should protect their existing terms of service and employment conditions.The protesters have demanded that the Bihar Special Universities Act, 2026, be repealed, arguing that the proposed restructuring could affect the professional terms and conditions under which they are currently employed.Gupta also questioned the need to establish a separate university for women, arguing that the government should first focus on addressing the shortage of basic facilities in existing universities.
Which colleges will come under Mata Sita Women’s University?
Under the proposed framework, women’s colleges in Patna, except those affiliated with Patna University, would be brought under Mata Sita Women’s University.The Bihar government’s plan follows cabinet approval for the university’s framework under the Bihar Special Universities Act, 2026. The proposed arrangement would change the affiliation structure of several women’s colleges in the state capital.The move has raised concerns among faculty members over the implications of the proposed restructuring for their existing employment arrangements and the administrative framework governing their institutions.
Teachers allege police misbehaviour during protest
The protest also raised questions about the police action against the faculty members. Purnima Singh of the Department of Political Science alleged that police personnel misbehaved with women teachers while detaining the protesters.Singh said the faculty members had planned a peaceful march to Lok Bhavan to present their demands to the authorities.The administration, however, cited public disorder and traffic disruption as reasons for stopping the march. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Kritika Mishra said officials had attempted to persuade the protesters to use an appropriate forum to submit their grievances before taking action.The allegations of police misbehaviour and the administration’s explanation highlight the dispute over how the protest was handled, alongside the faculty members’ objections to the proposed affiliation.
What does the Bihar Special Universities Act, 2026, provide for?
The Bihar Special Universities Act, 2026, provides for the establishment of specialised, multidisciplinary universities in the state. It also includes a provision for the chief minister to serve as chancellor.The proposed affiliation of JD Women’s College with Mata Sita Women’s University has brought the legislation under scrutiny among the institution’s faculty members, who want assurances that their existing service conditions will remain protected.The teachers have urged the state government to reconsider the legislation and address their concerns over institutional affiliation and employment conditions. The dispute centres on whether the proposed restructuring can proceed while safeguarding the existing arrangements of faculty members and the institutions affected by the change.(With PTI inputs)