Protests by students of self-financing courses on Tuesday forced Patna University (PU) to postpone the second semester examination for postgraduation (MA and MSc) courses scheduled on the very first day.

The imposition of Section 144 of CrPC (against unlawful assembly of five or more persons) by the district administration around Patna College and Patna Science College, the two examination centres, on Monday did not help.

Allegations were levelled that there was not adequate policing at the centres. Moreover, police stood mute spectators when more than 100 students from self-financing courses barged into the classrooms at the examination centres and asked the MA and MSc examinees to leave before the examination could begin. Sensing trouble, the PU administration decided to postpone Tuesday’s examination.

The self-financing students were protesting the examination, as many vocational courses under the new semester mode didn’t get the chancellor’s nod, while on other hand, the university decided to hold the MA and MSc examinations.

The regular course students, whose examination was postponed, were upset with the varsity decision.

MSc student Vikash Kumar Singh said: “PU is meting out a step-motherly treatment towards students of self-financing courses.”

Ravi Kumar, a second semester geology student, said: “Our session is running six months late. Now, the examination has been postponed.”

More than 10 vocational courses awaiting the chancellor’s nod include MSc in biotechnology, MSc in biochemistry, MSc in environmental science, MA in safety management, MBA, MFC, rural development and others.

Sources said PU introduced the semester system in all its postgraduation courses, including self-financing courses, in the 2012-13 academic session, in anticipation of the chancellor’s approval. All the regular courses got the Raj Bhavan’s nod but not the self-financing courses.