Ranchi, Nov. 10: Ranchi University vice-chancellor S.S. Kushwaha has put in abeyance the transfer and deputation of 57 teachers of various colleges.

Kushwaha issued the order today after protests from a delegation of teachers of the Jharkhand Adivasi Buddhijivi Manch, led by Karma Oraon.

The organisation had opposed the transfer orders passed by the vice-chancellor, alleging that they were biased and went against the welfare of tribal teachers.

University officials said the transfers were based on “need and had nothing to do with any caste or class classification”.

Manch president and anthropology professor Karma Oraon said university officials wanted to transfer only teachers favoured by them. “The list has names of people who are close to university bigwigs. Tribal teachers are not being given a chance to come forward,” said Oraon. “There are many tribal teachers who want to do research work and need to be transferred to bigger colleges. Many of them even applied for transfers, but they have been left out of the list” he added.

The manch met Kushwaha and other senior university officials and demanded that the transfer orders be cancelled and tribal teachers be included in the list drafted by the vice-chancellor’s office.

Kushwaha said the transfers and deputations have been made according to the requirement of teachers in different colleges. “The list of teachers was made to transfer and depute teachers to such colleges where there is a shortage of teachers,” said Kushwaha.

“The matter has been put on stay due to resistance from a section of the teachers of the university. The matter will either be reviewed or cancelled. No date has been finalised by the university for issuance of a new order,” he added.

Another university official said the teachers were being transferred to places where there is a dearth of good teachers.

Colleges in tribal areas like Bero, Chaibasa, Seraikela, Gumla, Lohardagga, Sisai, Ghatshila and Bahragora do not have the required number of teachers in the colleges. The transfer and deputations had been done to fill the vacant posts in those colleges.