Bihar Opposition Leader Urges CM to Treat Urdu and Sanskrit with Equality
Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, has written to Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary demanding immediate action on several issues affecting teachers of Urdu, Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit in government and aided schools. The letter, dated Monday, was shared by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday.
In his two-page letter, Mr. Yadav alleged that the ongoing teacher transfer process in Bihar has been marked by discriminatory and irregular treatment, particularly for teachers of Urdu, Arabic, and Persian. He claimed that widespread discontent prevails among these teachers due to the manner in which transfers are being carried out.
Mr. Yadav expressed serious concern that in many schools, even the lone teacher for Urdu, Arabic, or Persian has been declared 'surplus' and included in the transfer list. He argued that transferring the only available teacher for a subject by deeming them 'surplus' effectively halts the teaching of that subject in the school.
The RJD leader further claimed that complaints have surfaced regarding the abolition or 'surplus' designation of sanctioned posts for these subjects, even in schools with sufficient student enrollment. He also alleged that teachers with less than five years of service, contractual teachers, and those recently transferred have been included in the transfer list, which he described as a serious question over the transparency and fairness of the entire process.
Highlighting the cultural significance of the languages, Mr. Yadav stated that Sanskrit and Urdu are part of India's cultural heritage, and it is the government's responsibility to treat both with equality and respect. He demanded concrete steps to ensure the availability of teachers for both Urdu and Sanskrit in every government school, granting equal academic importance to both subjects.
The Leader of the Opposition also drew attention to the pending salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff in aided madrasas and Sanskrit schools. He claimed that salaries have not been paid for approximately five to six months, directly affecting the education, medical care, and daily expenses of their families. He called the delay 'neither humane nor expected of a sensitive government.'
Mr. Yadav demanded an independent and impartial review of the current 'surplus' and transfer lists for Urdu, Arabic, and Persian teachers. He asked that all transfers found to be irregular or in violation of rules be cancelled immediately. He also urged the government to halt the practice of declaring a lone subject teacher as 'surplus' and to refrain from abolishing sanctioned posts for these subjects.
He further requested that cases involving teachers with less than five years of service, contractual teachers, and those recently transferred be re-examined as per rules. He called for a clear policy to ensure the availability of Urdu and Sanskrit teachers in every government school and for the immediate release of all outstanding salary arrears for teaching staff in aided madrasas and Sanskrit schools.
Mr. Yadav asserted that accountability must be fixed for irregularities in the transfer process, and action should be taken against officials found guilty. He stated that injustice towards teachers, neglect of students' educational rights, and withholding of salaries for months are unacceptable under any circumstances.
The letter concludes with an expectation that the concerned department will be directed to take appropriate action. As of now, there has been no official response from the Bihar government to these allegations and demands.
