A senior Raj Bhawan official said the order issued by the outgoing V-C “smacked of vendetta”.

“The governor expressed displeasure over the timing of the suspensions,” he added. The teachers were suspended for wilful neglect of duty, like not taking classes, breach of contract, misconduct and financial irregularities.

Commenting over the “timing” of his action, Prof Singh said: “I had taken the decision about seven days before the completion of my tenure. However, as the assistant registrar and registrar of the varsity were on leave, their was delay in the implementation of the decision. It was only a coincidence that the suspension was officially announced on the last day of my tenure.”

The former V-C added that he will soon send a communication to Raj Bhawan to clarify his position.

The Lucknow University Teachers’ Association (LUTA) hailed the governor’s decision.

“It is our victory against the former V-C, who had taking several unconstitutional decisions in his three-year stint,” said LUTA general secretary Pusphendra Mishra.

LUTA members said that they would soon meet the governor to thank him and to request him to review all decision taken by Prof Singh in the last three months.

Meanwhile, a general body meeting of LUTA held today sacked Dr D P Tiwari as its president and elected Dr Awadhesh Kumar in his place.

About 300 teachers passed a resolution to “relieve” Tiwari, alleging that he had not been extending his support and cooperation to varsity teachers.

Dr Tiwari had not reacted to the suspension of teachers.