The University of Burdwan on Wednesday issued an order asking teachers and non-teaching staff of 62 degree colleges under its jurisdiction to join duty on the campus but had to withdraw the directive within a few hours following protests from the faculty members who noted that the state government had last month decided not to open colleges and universities immediately in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sources said the varsity’s inspector of colleges (IC) Sujit Kumar Chowdhury had issued the order.

“I am directed to inform you that the executive council, B.U, at its meeting held on 02.03.2021, resolved that in view of the General Election to the Assembly and UG/PG semester examinations to be conducted by the university of Burdwan, regular attendance on all working days and on Sundays (wherever required) in usual office hours for all the teaching, the non-teaching staff and the librarians of all affiliated colleges under the university is urgently required to provide uninterrupted public services for the greater interest of the students. So, you are requested to take necessary steps in this regard,” read the order.

“When most college teachers are attending election training, how can they attend college regularly? Moreover, colleges have not been sanitised and railway services are yet to be normalised,” said a college teacher from Birbhum.

Following the protests, Chowdhury issued another order on Wednesday evening: “As directed by the competent authority, our earlier letter…dated 03.03.2021 is hereby withdrawn,” the order said.

Pro-vice-chancellor Ashis Kumar Panigrahi said the earlier order had been the result of miscommunication.