Against the backdrop of the two-month long agitation by teachers demanding payment of arrears, the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday announced a six-month long ban on strikes in all 12 state universities and 460 government-aided degree colleges in the state.

"Under section 3(1) of the Maintenance of Essential Services Act 1966 and UP State Universities act 1973, the state government has banned strikes in universities and degree colleges for six months," a government spokesman said in Lucknow.

Over 18,000 teachers in 12 state universities and 460 government and government-aided colleges in UP are agitating for the past two months, demanding payment of all arrears of sixth pay commission with effect from January 2006.

The agitating teachers of degree colleges have even threatened to boycott annual examinations scheduled to start in March.

Several practical exams scheduled this month have already been cancelled due to agitation by the teachers.

"The decision has been taken to ensure that academic session does not get affected due to strike by the teachers" he said.