Ranchi, May 14: Bowing to pressure from teachers, Ranchi University today rescinded its order curtailing the summer vacations.

In a bid to provide more classes to students and also to compensate the loss suffered on account of bandhs called by different political outfits, the authorities had announced curtailment of the summer vacations by about 10 days.

According to university sources, the Tuesday order addressed to college principals and postgraduate department heads, had said that colleges and postgraduate departments would close on May 17 and re-open on June 9. The summer vacation was earlier scheduled between May 19 and June 21.

The order triggered howls of protest from the teachers. “A teachers’ delegation called on the university officials yesterday and registered its dissent over the vacation curtailment with vice chancellor S.S. Kushwaha,” university sources said.

Kushwaha expressed anguish and described the teachers of Ranchi University as “anti-students”. “They should have realised that owing to two to three bandhs a month, we have not been able to meet UGC guidelines on the number of classes. A sacrifice of 10 days would have compensated the loss of studies to the students, but teachers are not ready to budge,” Kushwaha said.

The vice-chancellor added that he was revoking the earlier order “under heavy pressure from teachers”.

On May 6, Kushwaha, in consultation with senior university officials, had proposed to curtail the number of holidays. “However, he had refrained from commenting on summer vacation curtailment. But after several rounds of parleys with university officials, he agreed to slash the vacations also,” sources said.

Describing Kushwaha's move as unilateral, a Ranchi University Constituent Colleges Teachers' Association leader said: “The UGC itself has stipulated that vacations are aimed at providing teachers and the students to undergo preparation for the next classes and work on the taught ones. Slashing vacations tantamounts to contravention of UGC norms.”