Tura, Nov 5: The Garo Students’ Union CEC unit has demanded immediate appointment of a pro-vice-chancellor and holding student body elections at North Easter Hill University (NEHU) Tura Campus.
Since September 2021, the NEHU Tura Campus has been functioning without a Pro-VC, limiting powers and functions of the Campus, the GSU CEC said.
“There are a number of well qualified and experienced professors from the campus and there should be no issue in appointing a Pro-VC to oversee the campus,” said Tengsak G Momin, president of GSU CEC.
Absence of the Pro-VC at NEHU Tura Campus has been an intermittent problem. The post was vacant from September 2015 till October 2016 and there was only an “in-charge” Pro VC from September 2021 till July 2022. Then Prof Sujata Gurudev took over as NEHU Tura Campus “in-charge” in July 2022 till September 2023 since when the same incumbent was appointed “campus director”, according to the GSU CEC.
“The GSU is at a quandary to understand whether such designation as “campus director” exists in NEHU,” it said.
Claiming that absence of a Pro-VC affects the day-to-day functioning of NEHU Tura Campus, the GSU CEC said, “Without a Pro-VC, it is difficult to incur office expenses because of restricted financial powers.”
“The GSU feels neglect and sense of abandonment when such inequalities are heaped upon one of the most recognizable and established higher educational institute like NEHU in Garo Hills does not even have a Pro-VC for a many years,” the GSU CEC said.
Meanwhile, the GSU CEC termed the dissolution of Post Graduate Students Union (PGSU) of NEHU Tura Campus, saying, “The dissolution of PGSU was done directly with no proper meeting and without paying proper heed to the side of the student representative.”
“Campus director has only the authority to dissolve the current body of the PGSU,” GSU CEC asserted claiming that the reason for dissolution was “an argument” between the then PGSU president and an official.
The GSU CEC also went on to claim that PGSU has an annual sanction of ₹12 lakh and that the money was withdrawn from NEHU accounts.
To support its demand for holding election to PGSU, the GSU CEC also cited Article 6.1.1 of Lyngdoh Commission/Committee that states, “Universities and colleges across the country must ordinarily conduct elections for the appointment of students to student representative bodies. ……….”
Article 6.10.4 of the Lyngdoh Commission/Committee states that “In the event of the office of any major post of the office bearer failing vacant within two months of the elections, re-elections should be conducted…”, the GSU CEC added.
