Patna: More than 50 teachers and non-teaching employees were detained in Patna on Saturday during a march to Lok Bhavan against the Bihar Special Universities Act, 2026 with protesters alleging that police used force and injured several women teachers.The demonstration, organised by the Bihar State University and College Teachers and Non-Teaching Employees Joint Struggle Front, began at J D Women’s College but was stopped near the starting point. Tension escalated when protesters tried to move ahead. Police detained demonstrators, including women, and took them away in buses. Organisers alleged that several sustained injuries, some serious, while some detainees were later released from police stations.The protesters had arrived from universities and colleges across Bihar and planned to submit a memorandum to the governor. Patna sub-divisional magistrate Kritika Mishra repeatedly announced that the gathering lacked permission and asked demonstrators to leave the area before police began making arrests. A confrontation also broke out between women teachers and female police personnel, with one teacher alleging assault.The agitation centres on provisions the employees say would increase govt control over higher education and undermine universities’ academic and administrative autonomy. They have particularly opposed Section 3, which they claim empowers the state to alter a university’s nature, scope and territorial jurisdiction through a gazette notification.The protesters demanded withdrawal of the 2026 legislation and continuation of the 1976 Act, insisting traditional colleges retain their existing university affiliations.Neelam Kumari, a sports department teacher at Arvind Women’s College, said the govt should implement the original 1976 Act instead of separating colleges through new amendments. Other participants, including Santosh Kumar of Commerce College, Seema of J D Women’s College’s chemistry department and Heena of its philosophy department, said the agitation would continue until their demands were met.The organisers condemned the police action, saying employees must be allowed to raise grievances peacefully.
