He attributed this decision to the ‘bitter experiences’ he faced in his three-year stint with LU.

“One cannot imagine the amount of political interference in state universities. Every time you plan a reform for raising academic standards, people from the government, students’ union and teachers’ union stand up against you. I faced such situations umpteen times,” said Singh after the varsity teachers bid him farewell on Monday.

However, Singh added that he will be privileged to help scholars and LU teachers involved in research projects.

Singh plans to settle in Pune, where his eldest daughter resides. His successor Prof A J Barar will take over on January 6.

Singh said he take up the position of a visiting faculty with some foreign universities and central universities within the country.

“Unlike state universities, the work culture of our central universities and foreign universities is quite different. Their main focus is on academics. Moreover, your hard work is acknowledged,” he said.

At the farewell, teachers, LU executive council members and others congratulated the V-C for his campaign against anti-social student leaders and “non-serious” teachers.

“Prof Singh is one of the very few V-Cs who had the guts to weed out anti-social elements from the campus and restore the academic environment of the varsity,” said former LU V-C Prof S S Sodha.