Cooch Behar, Jan. 7: The officers of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya started a relay sit-in at the university today, demanding the resignation of the vice-chancellor (VC) for his role in sacking the registrar on December 4.

An earlier ceasework by the officers had ended when the registrar,, Parimal Chandra Sarkar, was reinstated following a directive from the Bengal agriculture department. However, the officers, supported by teachers, students and non-teaching staff, did not allow the vice-chancellor, Mrinal Kanti Majumdar, to enter the university, located in Pundibari, Cooch Behar.

Majumdar today broke his silence over the issue and said the agitation was affecting administrative and academic work at the varsity and more importantly delaying the regularisation of 28 contractual employees.

“These contractual employees have been given permanent jobs by the agriculture department. However, they cannot be regularised if I am not allowed to attend office and my tenure ends on January 31,” Majumdar said.

The posts range from medical officers, stenographers, guards and clerks. Without elaborating, Majumdar added that he had taken the right decision about the registrar.