LN Mishra University authorities have instructed students and staff to compulsorily participate in the human chain on Saturday, despite the government's assurance to the high court that there would be no coercion for the event.

The university has also postponed exams for BEd and practical exams for BA/BSc part one (honours) courses scheduled for Saturday.

The varsity registrar's notification instructs staff and students to be " nishchit roop se upasthit" (compulsorily present) at a square on the campus at 11.40am. Reminded about the high court's order, registrar Ajit Kumar Singh said: "It depends on interpretation. It may sound like an appeal for a just cause or a mandatory instruction for participation. We did not see any anomaly while issuing the notification. Transport will be heavily disturbed on Saturday; it will not be feasible for the students to attend the examinations."

The notifications were issued on education department secretary Jitendra Srivastava's instructions, the registrar added.

Asked about it, Srivastava said he had ordered participation, "but it is not mandatory. Regarding postponement of exams, the university has the freedom to decide on its own."

District magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh has issued a similar notification instructing district officials and staff to participate in the human chain. Heads of all departments have been instructed to ensure "necessarily" the presence of their staff. The DM, however, claimed participation is not mandatory.