Salt Lake: The Bengal government has empowered itself to transfer any teacher or employee of a government-aided college to a similar institute if it is deemed necessary "in public interest".

The higher education department on Thursday issued a gazette notification on the implementation of a clause in the West Bengal Universities and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Act, 2017, (West Bengal) Act VII of 2017, that pertains to the transfer of teachers, librarians and other employees of government-aided colleges.

The advantage of this provision is that it will enable the government to rationalise the distribution of teachers by transferring someone from an institute to one with less than the stipulated staff strength.

Some teachers fear the provision could also be used to punish someone for not toeing the government's line.

The notification states that teachers, librarians and other employees can seek mutual or voluntary transfer.

A mutual transfer means a person in an aided college can swap places with a willing colleague who has the same qualifications and experience.

Government-aided but minority-run colleges are still exempt from transfers.