CM meets agitating students at NEHU
Shillong, Nov 16: NEHU vice-chancellor Prof PS Shukla, who apparently failed to pacify agitations by students and non-teaching staff that prompted the Centre to order probe into allegations of mismanagement, has gone on a leave for 13 days citing “unavoidable circumstances”.
In a letter to the registrar, Prof Shukla said, “Due to some unavoidable circumstances, I am leaving the campus on earned leave (EL) with effect from today (November 15, 2024) with prefix and suffix.”
“This can be extended further if required. During my absence, the senior most professor of the university (Prof N Saha or others) shall look after the charge/duties of the vice-chancellor,” the letter added.
The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has been under total lockdown for past 11 days due to the indefinite hunger strike protest led by NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU Unit demanding resignation of the VC and termination of the registrar and the deputy registrar.
Meanwhile, chief minister Conrad K Sangma met the agitating students on Friday. “A lot of discussions are happening (on the issue). We will talk later,” Sangma told reporters.
Earlier on Thursday, union Ministry of Education formed a two-member committee to inquire into the various allegations of administrative mismanagement in the central university. The committee has been asked to submit a report along with recommendations within 15 days.
The committee will probe the allegations of irregular appointments including the appointment of the registrar and the deputy registrar, which are claimed to have contributed to the university’s inefficiency.
It will also probe the university’s declining rankings, which was visible in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), allegedly due to administrative negligence.
Meanwhile, the NEHU Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) also launched a non-cooperation movement against the VC while urging the newly appointed pro-VCs for Shillong and Tura campuses not to join their respective duty.
The agitating students already rejected outright the VC’s move to appoint the pro-VCs, seen as a move to pacify the agitation.
The agitation initially began to demand termination of the two officials alleging illegalities in their appointment, but the protesters later scaled up the demand for resignation of the VC due to his alleged adamant attitude in resolving the stalemate.
