Two Rajasthan BJP ministers come to blows over teachers’ transfer row
The scuffle broke out at education minister Vasudev Devnani’s house when health minister Banshidhar Bajiya went to meet him to ask for the transfer of some teachers from his constituency.
Two Rajasthan ministers allegedly came to blows on Friday over transfer of teachers, causing a major embarrassment to the ruling BJP.

Sources said scuffle broke out when minister of state for health Banshidhar Bajiya had gone to the residence of state education minister Vasudev Devnani to take up the case of transfer of teachers from his constituency.
A BJP leader privy to the matter said on condition of anonymity that after Devnani refused to agree to transfer of some teachers recommended by Bajiya, a heated argument ensued with Bajiya allegedly slapping Devnani.
“Devnani had already agreed to transfer 175 teachers from Bajiya’s constituency, but he had come up with fresh demands. There was a heated argument after Devnani refused to agree to the fresh demands,” the BJP leader said.
Devnani refused to comment on the incident while Bajiya could not be contacted as his cell phone was switched off.
BJP media cell in-charge Anand Sharma confirmed that there was a heated argument between the ministers over the issue of transfer of teachers but denied that Bajiya had slapped Devnani.
BJP Rajasthan in-charge, Avinash Rai Khanna, spoke to both the ministers over phone, another BJP leader said.
The transfer of teachers has always been a sensitive issue in Rajasthan, regardless of which government is in power, with allegations of political interference and corruption.
In February this year, the Rajasthan government had issued an order seeking transfer requests from party workers of their relatives in the education department.
The order dated February 16 had asked all MLAs and district party presidents to email transfer requests. It included a pro forma for party workers desirous of such transfers.
Recently, more than 12,000 teachers posted in elementary education department were transferred across the state. The head of the schools and education officials have been directed by the education department to relieve or post a teacher who has been transferred only through Shala Darshan Portal, an online platform where database of all schools is stored.
The officials in the department said that many teachers who have been transferred avoid resuming duty in their new place of posting and want to buy more time to continue in their existing posts.
Officials fear that this practice could affect the education of the students as the new academic session has begun.
The number of government school teachers in the state is estimated to be more than 3 lakh, according to the education department data.
