A recent directive from the Bihar education department, cautioning teachers against expressing grievances publicly, has ignited a controversy, with teachers’ associations denouncing it as an infringement on their democratic rights and freedom of expression. The situation escalated further as the department issued orders to halt the salary and pension of Federation of University Teachers’ Association of Bihar (FUTAB) working president Kanhaiya Bahadur and general secretary Sanjay Kumar. This move comes in response to their criticism of an order mandating college and university teachers to conduct five classes daily and remove names of students absent for over three days.
Teachers’ Outcry Against Bihar Education Department’s Restrictive Order
Teachers’ bodies in Bihar have strongly criticized the education department’s order, labeling it as an affront to their democratic rights and the freedom to express their concerns. The directive warns teachers of potential action for airing grievances against office orders in public. The controversy further deepened as the education department took punitive action against FUTAB leaders Kanhaiya Bahadur and Sanjay Kumar by stopping their salary and pension, citing their dissenting remarks on the compulsory class schedule and student attendance policy.
Protests and Legal Action Unfold: Teachers Vow to Defend Democratic Freedoms
In response to the curtailment of their rights, Sanjay Kumar, also a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), plans to serve a privilege notice against the suspension of his pension. He emphasized that the order was issued without proper fact-checking. Additionally, Kumar has threatened to stage a dharna (sit-in protest) in front of the Chief Minister’s residence to register his opposition to the punitive actions taken against him. The incident reflects a growing clash between educators and the administration, highlighting the importance of protecting democratic principles within the education system.
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