The University of Pune on Saturday night withdrew the implementation of the controversial Ordinance 157 that prohibited students from talking to the media or any other outside agency before forwarding the complaint through the head of the institution. The management council and senate members of the university, shocked by the decision, said the controversial amendment was not introduced during any of the decision-making bodies meetings.

After The Indian Express reported about the recent circular on Saturday, the National Students' Congress (NSC) threatened to protest at the campus on Monday.

The circular, under the title Obligations of Students (Clause 3), states: "Every student shall at all times, not lodge any complaint or make any representation regarding any matter connected with the Institution to press or other outside institution/agency etc, without forwarding the same through the Head of the concerned Institution".

The university had also increased the maximum fine that a student can be charged from Rs 300 to Rs 5,000. The circular states that "Any act of a student that is contrary to the provisions of Clause 3 shall constitute misconduct and or indiscipline..."

A senior official from the institution called up the newspaper on Saturday and said, "The ordinance was put up by the University with approval from the governor as he is the chancellor of the University. It didn't come from the state government. There was some miscommunication on Friday among the University officials, due to which it was told to the media that the circular has come from the government."

Senior members of university expressed shock at ordinance 157. "This ordinance was not introduced at any management council meeting. We are wondering why this decision was even taken," said Dr Arunkumar Walunj, member of the management council.