Cuttack: Ravenshaw University authorities on Thursday decided to reopen the institution that had been declared closed indefinitely since Tuesday evening "in view of the ongoing students' unrest and deteriorating academic atmosphere on the campus".
The authorities relented under mounting pressure from various quarters with the closure having disrupted semester examinations.
"A formal decision with regard to revoke sine die closure will be taken on Friday," vice-chancellor Ishan Patro told The Telegraph.
"The decision will be taken after the meeting of residence committee and due consultation with the district administration."
The Ravenshaw Bikash Abhijan had sought intervention of the governor for reopening the university the Mahanagar Nagarika Manch had appealed to the university authorities to withdraw the sine die order for uninterrupted completion of the semester examinations.
Following a staff council meeting on Thursday, the university authorities held a meeting with the members of the Ravenshaw Chhatra Kriyanustan Committee that had been spearheading the agitation.
Later, the committee called off its agitation.
"We called off the agitation after we were assured that the sine die order would be revoked," said Saroj Mansingh, a postgraduate student and committee spokesperson.
The Ravenshaw Bikash Abhijan, constituting socio-political activists and old student leaders, submitted a memorandum to the governor (who is the university chancellor) through the Cuttack collector on Wednesday.
"If the semester examinations are not completed and results are not declared on time, the students will not be able to apply to any university for further studies and will lose one academic session," it said.
"Entrance examinations to Ravenshaw University was scheduled to be held from May 22. The sine die closure inconvenience the aspirant students," said Sibashis Praharaj, Ravenshaw Bikash Abhijan executive body member.
Khageswar Sethi, a spokesperson for Mahanagar Nagarika Manch, said: "We appeal to the vice-chancellor to reopen the university and ensure that all examinations including the entrance examinations are held on time and the results declared according to schedule so that the students do not suffer."
The vice-chancellor said: "After lifting of sine die, the examinations will be rescheduled while ensuring that they are over before the summer vacations start on May 28. Results will be declared by June 27."
The student unrest had centred around the Ravenshaw Chhatra Kriyanustan Committee's demand for withdrawal of the order to hike fees for self-financing courses and to vacate hostels on May 28.
After the university was declared closed indefinitely later on Tuesday evening, the varsity authorities asked the boarders of all its hostels to vacate their rooms by 10am on Wednesday.
Police were present on the campus on Wednesday to ensure boarders vacated hostels within the stipulated time.
