Shillong, Mar 23: Intensifying their demand for removal of North-Eastern Hills University (NEHU) vice-chancellor Prof PS Shukla, the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU unit have asked the non-teaching staff not to obey any direction of the VC and the registrar Col Omkar Singh.
“We request your association and the broader non-teaching fraternity to refrain from complying with any direction(s), order(s), meeting(s), decision(s) or instruction(s) issued by Prof PS Shukla and Col Omkar Singh,” NEHUSU and KSU stated in a letter addressed to NEHU Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) recently.
Accusing the VC and the registrar of attempting to function remotely while not being in station, they said it’s a violation of the NEHU Act, 1973.
According to them, Prof Shukla has been on continuous leave for 127 days and has failed to discharge his duties since 15 September last year.
“His claim to resume duty via an online mode from Delhi is arbitrary, unsubstantiated, and against the established rules and regulations of our university,” the letter said.
It claimed that there is no provision in the university’s rules or regulations that allows for resumption of duty remotely.
“This unauthorized action of Prof PS Shukla is unacceptable and must be condemned, as it sets a dangerous precedent for the future governance of the University. Such actions should not be accepted nor encouraged,” the NEHUSU and KSU said.
Coming down heavily on the registrar Col Omkar Singh as well, they accused him of failing to report back to the university since his leave commenced.
“Any action, direction, or order issued by Col Singh is being regarded as invalid and unacceptable to the student community at large,” they said.
They also reiterated their firm stance that neither Prof Shukla nor Col Singh could be considered legitimate members of the university community.
“The persona non grata status that has been assigned to them by various civil organizations and the local community of our state continues to be endorsed by the students of the University, and we too consider them persona non grata,” they wrote.
The NEHUSU and the KSU also urged the faculty members to be on their side, else they “will be regarded as acting in contradiction to interests and welfare of the NEHU student community”.
