Patna University vice-chancellor Y.C. Simahadri is again in trouble for his controversial utterances. This time because he likened protesters to dogs.

Talking to reporters on Saturday about the varsity’s plan to organise Patna University’s convocation, Simahadri said: “Some unwanted outsiders are trying to sabotage our functioning by spreading rumours and stoking false controversies. They are simply dogs paid to bark. We are not paying attention to them.”

Sources said the VC made the remarks when some student unions were protesting against the varsity’s decision to impose a Rs 50 fine for absenteeism in class.

For the past week, various students’ bodies have been protesting against the decision.

Various students’ bodies have criticised Simahadri’s statement. The All India Students’ Federation (AISF) has planned a protest on November 25, when Patna University will hold its convocation at SK Memorial Hall. The university administration has invited Union HRD minister Smriti Irani to grace the ceremony.

AISF general secretary Sushil Kumar said: “The VC’s statement is undemocratic and targets students who raise their voice against the varsity administration’s Taliban diktat.” He also said AISF would try to bring all students’ bodies such as AISA, RJD students’ wing, Chhatra Samagam (students’ wing of JDU) and other students’ bodies to their agitation against the VC.

At the beginning of the academic session this July, the Patna University administration issued a notification asking students who are absent without proper leave to pay a Rs 50 fine for each day they skipped class.

Those who skipped just one or two periods would be fined Rs 25 for the day. The collected fine would be deposited in the college/department’s development fund for organising seminars, beautification and other activities of the colleges and department.

Ever since the notification was issued, various student bodies have been protesting the decision. In August, different student unions conducted a referendum on the VC’s directive. The referendum results indicated the students were against the decision.

More protests lie in store for the VC in the days ahead. This time it is from teachers upset with his functioning.

On Saturday, he faced a setback and had to withdraw his decision to seek a blanket authorisation to confer honoris causa on a person of his choice. During the syndicate meeting, the VC floated the idea of giving him complete freedom to choose who can be honoured with honoris causa.

But the Patna College principal and PU syndicate member, N.K. Chaudhary, raised his voice against the decision.

Talking to The Telegraph, Chaudhary said: “On my protest, the VC withdrew his decision. Before honouring any person with honoris causa, he would have to take the consent of the syndicate and the senate. But, no such proposal was placed by the two bodies.”

In 2003, then vice-chancellor K.K. Jha had decided to honour RJD president Lalu Prasad with honoris causa but at that time too it was Chaudhary who had protested against the proposal.

The VC could not be contacted for comments despite making several calls.