Call it a fear from protesting students or no disturbance at work, Patna University vice-chancellor Y. C. Simhadri has stopped going to his office at the main administrative block.

The VC is working from his official residence located 500m away from the main administrative block.

Sources said it has been a week since Simhadri stopped going to his office as the main administrative block has been witnessing regular protests by students and non-teaching staff. For the past 4 days, All India Students Federation (AISF) members have been staging agitations at the main administrative block in support of their demands which include according Patna University the status of a central university, the central library be made functional for 24 hours, and fee waiver for girl students till the postgraduate level.

Nikhil Jha, an AISF member, said: "The VC has a habit of not listening to the students' demands. He stops visiting his office whenever students stage agitations in support of their demands."

However, Simhadri says since a vice-chancellor can function from anywhere and it is not mandatory for him/her to visit the office regularly. The fact assumes importance as even on Friday, Simhadri chaired a meeting with officials of the building committee at his residence.

According to the Patna University Act, a vice-chancellor can function from his residence, which can be made as the vice-chancellor's office under special circumstances. Retired Patna University teacher V.S. Dubey said: "The VC has to perform his work from his chamber. But under special circumstances, he can do so from his residence. He, however, has to inform the chancellor's office (Raj Bhavan) if he leaves the town handing over charges to the second-rank official."