Of the 1,600 students supposed to appear for their semesters, five had appeared for the examination on January 2.

Meanwhile, varsity registrar Bhaswati Moitra said, “A decision on the current situation will be taken at the academic council meeting on Monday.”

She added that the students have informed the varsity authorities of their two-fold demand. “Firstly, they will not sign an undertaking promising that their attendance will not drop below 75 per cent. Secondly, they are putting pressure on the university to allow the 10 students who have failed in their practical exams to sit for their theory papers.”

Partho Pratim Chattopadhyay, a teacher at the varsity, maintained that students should not use examinations to bargain for their demands. “It is obligatory for the students to appear in examinations and for the authorities to conduct them. There can be other avenues to settle the differences,” said Chattapoadhyay.

But the students do not want a truce. “We will sign the declaration only if the university assures us that there will be more transparency in attendance regulations in the future,” said Shyamasish Das, a student.