Patna University vice-chancellor Y.C. Simhadri on Monday suspended senior English teacher Shiv Jatan Thakur, allegedly after he complained to Raj Bhavan against the VC.

Thakur had written to the governor, seeking action against the security guards for not allowing him in during a meeting at the VC's residence.

University sources said a meeting of the heads of postgraduate departments was called at the VC's residence on Saturday. Thakur, head of the English department, was initially prevented from attending the meeting by the security guards. Thakur's "rude" conduct led to his suspension, the sources added.

"When I reached the VC's residence at 10am on July 9, the security guards prevented me from entering the premises. They claimed the VC had specifically instructed them to debar my entry into the residential office," Thakur told The Telegraph. "But after waiting for around 15 minutes, I was allowed in."

Patna University proctor and acting registrar G.K. Pillai denied the guards were given any such instruction. "They did not recognise Thakur and that's why did not let him in initially," Pillai said.

The other university teachers present at the meeting said after Thakur entered the office, he protested against the VC and his security guards for not allowing a head of department to attend a crucial meeting of the university.

One of the officials present said Thakur accused the VC of strangling democracy within the university and accused him of having no knowledge of the rules the university was supposed to follow. "The VC chose to be stolid while Thakur was blasting him," the official said.

Later the same day, Thakur wrote the letter to the VC's office and sent a copy to Raj Bhavan with his plea. Thakur requested for an FIR against the security personnel from obstructing him from discharging his duties, and urged the governor to curb the "reprehensible highhandedness" of the VC.

"The varsity suspended Thakur as his act was against the head of the institution," Simhadri said. "I did not give any instruction to the guards to not let Thakur in, but I don't blame the guards too. They are not supposed to know everyone coming to the meeting. They were just doing their duty."

Pillai said: "He (Thakur) used abusive language against the chair and even threatened to drag Simhadri to court for allegedly muzzling the voice of teachers and non-teaching employees."

Thakur made another appeal to Raj Bhavan against his "illegal" and "malafide" suspension, stating only the syndicate has the power to suspend a teacher, including a head of department.