The South Gujarat College and University Teachers Association claimed vice-chancellor Prem Kumar Sharda had been warned against issuing such a circular. The vice-chancellor went out of his way to get the circular sanctioned by the academic council, the Association claimed.

The matter could not have been placed on the floor of academic council in the first place, the association pointed out. The circular was despatched to all affiliated colleges and departments, and many principals had even acted on it leading to resentment among teachers.

The matter came up for discussion in the last Syndicate meeting when members criticised what they called the ``anti-teacher step.'' Association president Suryakant Shah, Prof Girish Rana and Vyara college principal Rasesh Shukla -- both Syndicate members -- requested the vice-chancellor to withdraw the circular immediately.