The stand-off between Vice-Chancellor (VC) M. Abdul Salam and the employees of the University of Calicut continued for the second day on Tuesday with the latter taking out a march to the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and staging a sit-in there.
Forgetting political and organisational differences, the employees united against the ‘adamant’ stand of the Vice-Chancellor on their demands to revoke transfers violating ‘university norms.’
The employees threatened to launch a satyagraha in front of the administrative block on Wednesday and an indefinite strike on Monday if Dr. Salam failed to change his stance.
Several employees in the personal staff of the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar forwarded requests to relieve them of their duties in the respective offices.
The Controller of Examinations too had reportedly forwarded a similar request.
The university authorities said the agitation by the employees was unwarranted.
The VC could not be reached for comments.
He had reportedly sought legal help to take action against employees violating the High Court order.
The Kerala High Court, in an order issued over a year ago, had banned all protests and demonstrations on the campus.
Dr. Salam had also reportedly sought to book striking employees under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
