Kolkata: Professors from 17 state-aided universities, including Jadavpur, Calcutta, and Rabindra Bharati, along with the university and college teachers’ organisation, WBCUTA and ABUTA, has written a letter to governor R N Ravi, also chancellor of state-aided universities, seeking immediate intervention against the inter-university transfer bill and the bill related to provident fund.They have also sought chancellor’s appointment. Passed by the state assembly, these bills await governor’s signature. They expressed concerns over the implications of these bills for university autonomy, academic freedom, continuity of teaching and research and the statutory arrangements governing the PF of university staff.The teachers apprehended that the transfer powers could be misused to penalise faculty members, who express independent views. They fear transferring faculty will jeopardise ongoing research grants, laboratory infrastructure and time-bound doctoral research, leaving scholars stranded.
