KOZHIKODE: In an era of internet branding, one would definitely expect varsities to use websites to put their best foot forward.

But the website of Calicut University displays an official list of strikes that have rocked the varsity since vice-chancellor M Abdul Salam assumed office three years ago. In fact, the number of strikes has crossed 100, arguably making the varsity campus one of the biggest agitation hotspots in the state. This, in a university where the high court had in 2012 banned all agitations within 200 metres of varsity buildings.

"We want to sensitize the public about the violation of the high court order by the staff and teacher unions and student organizations. They are doing great damage to the academic environment by staging such unwanted agitations motivated by vested interests. For instance, some researchers have been carrying on indefinite stir for the last 15 days though the varsity issued an official news release agreeing to all their demands," VC Abdul Salam said.

The VC said resistance against the academic and administrative reforms he implemented has manifested in the form of incessant agitations on the campus.

"The writ of unions and diktat of syndicate members ran the varsity for 45 years. All appointments and promotions were done on a political basis. But now things have changed,, and with the implementation of biometric punching system, staff and students find their freedom curtailed as they are forced to remain in offices and classes. These two factors have fuelled the stirs," he said.

The varsity has issued disciplinary memos to more than 1,700 staff and teachers on various grounds over the period for participating in strikes.

Meanwhile, convener of Samyukta Samara Samithi P Omer said it was the VC's authoritarian attitude which pushed the varsity into a vortex of unending agitations. "No VC in the varsity's history has faced such opposition, that too jointly by all stakeholders in the varsity including staff, students and teachers.

The fact that all unions, student organizations, several teachers and most syndicate members have buried their differences to fight him is enough to show who is responsible for the current state of affairs," he added.

