Controversial Lucknow University Vice-Chancellor R P Singh has suspended 19 teachers, including the head of a department, on charges of not taking classes, irregularities in work and financial embezzlement.

The orders issued on Saturday by the Vice Chancellor on the last day of his tenure have evoked a strong reaction from the LU Teachers Association (LUTA), which has called a general body meeting on Monday to discuss the issue.

The suspension list includes the head of the chemistry department Anil Kumar Singh besides teachers of education, commerce, applied economics, physics and also chief engineer of university's works department.

According to the VC, these teachers were accused of wilfull neglect of duty and breach of code of conduct. A three-member committee headed by pro-vice chancellor Prof R S Yadav has also been constituted for the suspended teachers to plead their case in 15 days.

The outgoing VC is facing a number of charges, including that of financial indiscipline and taking foreign trips without seeking clearance from Raj Bhawan. An inquiry in this regard was going on by commissioner, Lucknow division Vijay Shankar Pandey.

Demanding that the state government lodge an FIR against Singh, LUTA General Secretary Pushpendra Mishra said his passport should be confiscated so that he does not fly out of the country to escape punishment.

He alleged that the VC took the decision on the last day of his tenure as the teachers had taken out a symbolic march to Raj Bhawan demanding action against him.

President LU Associated Teachers Association Maulindu Mishra described the action taken by the VC as illegal and demanded stern action against him.

Prof Ajayab Singh Barar of IIT New Delhi has already been appointed new VC of the university for a three-year tenure. He is likely to join within a day of two, sources said.

The outgoing VC was in the news last years for banning the students' union elections and his attempts to weed out students with criminal background from the campus. He, however, was accused of irregularities in appointments and financial indiscipline in the campus.