Shillong, June 1: The North-Eastern Hill University Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) has asked the Ministry of Education to expedite the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor, saying the advertisement for the post was “much-awaited” but should have come earlier given the “ongoing crisis” at the university.
In a letter to the Secretary, MoE on Monday, NEHUNSA said it “appreciates and welcomes the much-awaited advertisement for the post of Vice Chancellor in NEHU,” while noting that “anticipation for the advertisement was expected much earlier” due to “the incompetence shown by Prof PS Shukla.”
The association accused Prof Shukla of having “voluntarily chosen to abandon the University headquarters in Shillong,” while “trying his level best to interfere remotely from a distant location in the academic and administrative sector.”
“As a mature association, NEHUNSA has expressed its full faith in the Ministry of Education that, from this time forward, a Vice Chancellor shall be appointed who is well qualified both in the academic and administrative background in a highly transparent manner,” the letter said.
NEHUNSA pressed for a quick timeline. “The Association looks forward to the completion of the appointment process at the earliest, preferably before August, 2026, to avoid any leadership vacuum,” it said.
On the transition, the staff body said university norms must be followed.
“It would be delighted that the Acts and Statutes of the University are honoured in a manner that, on the expiry of the tenure of Prof PS Shukla as the Vice Chancellor, the senior-most Professor shall take charge as the acting Vice Chancellor of NEHU,” the letter said.
It warned against any extension for the incumbent.
“Any attempt to extend the term of Prof PS Shukla shall prove to be detrimental to the overall health of this University,” NEHUNSA said.
