The principals of two departments at Visva-Bharati on Wednesday stepped down as ex-officio members of the varsity’s executive council following “appeals” by students who said the duo had failed to meet their demands.

Acting public relations officer Atig Ghosh also resigned from his post, citing “personal and family” reasons. Ghosh left the WhatsApp group of reporters on Wednesday morning after informing them about his resignation. However, it could not be confirmed whether his resignation was approved by the varsity.

Sources said a group of protesting students on Wednesday met the executive committee member Mukteswar Nath Tiwari, the principal of Bhasa Bhavana, and Swapan Kumar Ghosh, the principal of Sangit Bhavana, and “appealed” to them to resign as member of the executive council.

The duo were asked to state their position about the students’ demand in a small video shoot. The officials said they had resigned from their posts after they failed to resolve the crisis students were facing.

“The varsity authorities led by vice-chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty are wilfully harassing the students by announcing physical examination without opening the hostels. So, we requested senior officials, principals or heads of departments to put down their papers in writing,” said Somnath Sow, a protesting student.

However, Tiwari hung up the call when he was asked about the resignation and Swapan Kumar Ghosh did not take calls.

On Wednesday evening, registrar Ashish Agrawal issued orders informing that both principals have been removed from their posts and directed two others, who he did not name, to take over their charges.

“As both were members of the executive council as principals, so their removal from the posts means they virtually lost their membership in the EC,” said a senior varsity official.

A section of varsity’s senior teachers said the orders issued by the registrar Agrawal, who had resigned on Tuesday, proved that his resignation was yet to be approved by the vice-chancellor.

“The resignation of the registrar was a hoax by the authorities to get their officials out of the gherao by the students. If his resignation was accepted, he could not issue the orders,” said a senior varsity official.