Patna University has revoked the suspension of English department teacher Shiv Jatan Thakur. He received a letter to that effect on September 16.

Thakur, suspended by vice-chancellor (VC) Y.C. Simhadri on July 11 for alleged misconduct, had approached Raj Bhavan over his suspension.

The chancellor's office too had asked the varsity to revoke the suspension but the VC's office had been sitting on the directive.

The Patna University administration had even filed a review petition with Raj Bhavan, seeking a review of the chancellor's order but it revoked the suspension even before its petition was disposed of.

The varsity administration acted on revoking the suspension as Governor Ram Nath Kovind had asked the VC to revoke the suspension first.

Patna University registrar Sanjay Kumar said: "The university administration decided to revoke Thakur's suspension based on the chancellor's directive."

Sources said the varsity administration decided to revoke the suspension considering the growing pressure from Raj Bhavan and Patna University teachers.

A senior varsity teacher said: "Last week, VC Simhadri had visited Raj Bhavan to discuss the varsity centenary year celebrations. The Governor was upset with the VC over non-compliance of his directive." He added: "The VC had no other alternative but to comply with the chancellor's directive."

Sources said even the Patna University Teachers' Association (Puta), too exerted pressure upon the VC for the same.

Puta general secretary Anil Kumar said: "Puta had met the VC on several occasions and requested him to revoke the Thakur's suspension."

On August 16, Raj Bhavan revoked Thakur's suspension after hearing arguments from both Patna University and Thakur. According to the chancellor's office directive, Thakur's suspension was to be revoked with immediate effect but the VC office first sat on the directive and later filed a review petition at Raj Bhavan.

Patna University will hold its centenary year celebrations on October 1 for a year.

Sources said apart from the Thakur suspension issue, the varsity administration had not been sharing amicable relations with teachers, non-teaching employees and even students.

Teachers have been demanding promotions, non-teaching employees the same, pay hike and even regularisation of their services.

Even the varsity administration had failed to solve students' problems. Anand Shankar, a student at Patna College, said: "The VC has failed to initiate any welfare scheme for students. The varsity administration is yet to fulfil our long-pending demand of holding students' union elections."