State: Bihar

Year: 2024

Date: January 23, 2024

Source:

Censorship

Bihar government’s issuance of two notifications prohibiting teachers from forming unions conspicuously represses the freedom of speech enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

A November 2023 Order of the Bihar government went a step further when it asked teachers to submit completely to the state government’s orders and diktats. The state bureaucracy, under the garb of efficiency, went to the extent of violating Article 19 of the Indian Constitution to transform schooling and higher education through a disciplinarian approach.

It was rumoured that the additional chief secretary of the state education department, leading the new policy-making, had resigned and it was attributed to a collective conspiracy of different sections, as well as pressure from different political forces due to the autocratic manner in which the system was being run. However, it turned out that had merely gone on a leave and was back on duty soon.