Over 50 Detained in Patna Protest Against Proposed Mata Sita Women’s University

Bihar Police on Saturday detained more than 50 teaching and non-teaching staff members during a protest at JD Women’s College in Patna against the proposed establishment of Mata Sita Women’s University.

The demonstrators, who came from different parts of Bihar, raised slogans against the state government’s plan to detach women’s colleges from Patliputra University and bring them under the proposed institution.

The protesters demanded that the concerns of teachers and colleges be addressed before any changes are made to the existing administrative and academic structure of women’s higher education in the state.

Rajeshwari Kumari, one of the participants, urged the government to implement the original 1976 Act instead of introducing amendments that would separate women’s colleges from their existing university arrangements.

According to Kumari, the original legislation envisaged a centralised and organised university system for women in Bihar. The protesters argued that this framework should be considered before the government proceeds with restructuring women’s higher education.

They also pointed out that several universities in Bihar already have two, four or five women’s colleges under their jurisdiction. Questioning the need to detach selected colleges to establish a separate university, they said the government should first assess whether the proposed arrangement would address the challenges facing women’s education.

The demonstrators called for consultations on academic requirements, administrative arrangements and the existing status of women’s colleges before any restructuring takes place.

They also demanded an integrated and equitable academic framework that would adequately address the needs of women students and the institutions providing higher education.

Teaching and non-teaching staff members, along with heads of departments from Patna University and various constituent colleges, participated in the demonstration.

Those involved in leading the protest included Santosh Kumar of Commerce College, Dr Seema of the Chemistry Department at JD Women’s College, and Heena of the Philosophy Department, among others.

Police detained several participants, citing the need to maintain law and order.

Despite the detentions, the protesters said they would continue their agitation until their demands were considered.

Their principal demands include implementation of the original 1976 Act and consultations with teachers and the institutions concerned before changing the administrative structure governing women’s colleges in Bihar.