They were protesting against the sacking of clerk V D Pandey for allegedly occupying a flat in the staff quarters building in an illegal manner.

Under the banner of Lucknow University Employees Association (LUEA), the employees staged a demonstration at the administrative block. In some departments, classrooms and offices remained locked.

According to the university authorities, till two months ago, Pandey used to stay in a house that he had constructed illegally near the LU vice-chancellor’s office on the campus.

The house was recently razed during an anti-encroachment drive held at the university.

“After the demolition of his house, Pandey started to stay in a flat at the staff quarters building. Taking a serious note of it, the university terminated him,” LU Registrar G P Tripathi said.

Pandey admitted that on December 21, he had received a notice from the LU registrar, accusing him of unlocking and occupying a flat at the staff quarters building. “I am staying in this flat because the university had demolished my home two years ago. They had demolished my house to make way for this building. Before entering the flat, I had informed the authorities,” he added. There are five more families residing in the building because their houses were demolished for same purpose, he said.

Pandey occupied flat No. 6 at the staff quarters building, constructed in 2007 at the university premises. On December 3, 2007, the then vice-chancellor R P Singh had inaugurated the building which had 18 flats. But surprisingly, none of the employees were allotted a flat.

Tripathi, the LU Registrar, said: “A meeting in this regard has been called on January 12.”

The LUEA president, Suresh Mishra, said: “As V D Pandey was a staff member, he has a right to stay in that flat. The university’s step to terminate him is arbitrary. The employees will continue to support Pandey till the university cancels his termination.”