Dipak Kurmi
The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), a prominent Central university in India’s northeast region, is embroiled in a deepening crisis marked by an ongoing student protest and growing discontent among non-teaching staff. The turmoil, sparked by allegations against Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, has spotlighted administrative inefficiencies and triggered significant unrest within the university community.
Since Prof. Shukla’s appointment in 2021, NEHU has experienced disruptions across its administrative and academic operations. The NEHU Non-teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA), in a recent emergency general body meeting, expressed their frustration, claiming that the university’s functioning has been severely impaired due to the vice chancellor’s perceived lack of administrative and academic expertise. NEHUNSA’s president, Dr. Wandondor R. Synrem, and general secretary, Jonathan Phira Nongbri, issued a statement lamenting delays in routine administrative processes, leading to widespread inefficiency.
The association highlighted that while the vice chancellor had previously justified the urgency of conducting interviews for statutory positions in Guwahati, the results were counterproductive. They noted, for instance, the delayed joining of the Controller of Examinations, who only assumed his role six months post-appointment, undermining the rationale for such an expedited process.
Beyond administrative delays, NEHUNSA pointed to infrastructural neglect as a major grievance. The condition of campus roads has deteriorated to unprecedented levels, a situation that repeated discussions with the vice chancellor have failed to resolve. University quarters allocated to employees remain poorly maintained, compelling occupants to fund their repairs despite regular House Rent Allowance (HRA) deductions. The absence of functional street lighting further exacerbates security concerns, jeopardizing the safety of both residents and students.
One of the most troubling revelations came through a recent RTI response, indicating that compassionate appointments within Government of India offices remain active; however, NEHU has yet to reinstitute this policy. Additionally, NEHUNSA cited an instance where a medical advance, required to be disbursed within ten days at 90% of the estimated cost per government rules, was delayed for over a month, causing severe hardship for the affected employee and their family. Such incidents, according to NEHUNSA, underscore a significant lack of adherence to established regulations.
Concerns over the quality of appointments were also raised. NEHUNSA noted the recent hiring of a Deputy Registrar who, despite holding a significant administrative position, lacks proficiency in English—the university’s medium of instruction. This, they argue, impedes daily operations and compromises the quality of administrative support.
The association firmly emphasized that NEHU’s top officers should not treat the institution as a training ground but should instead lead with competence and clarity in accordance with established government protocols.
Meanwhile, the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) has been spearheading a hunger strike since November 5, demanding the immediate removal of Vice Chancellor Shukla and four senior officials, including Registrar Col Omkar Singh (Retd) and Deputy Registrar Amit Gupta. This protest, now in its 13th day, has garnered substantial support from various quarters, including the influential Mawlai Town Dorbar (MTD), the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), the Khasi Students Union’s NEHU chapter, and the Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association.
The MTD, a traditional body that oversees the jurisdiction where the NEHU campus is located, has taken an unyielding stance against Prof. Shukla’s continued presence at the university. MTD President Herlambok War, following a meeting with the striking students, declared that Shukla would not be allowed to re-enter the campus post his leave, which began on November 15 and is set to end on November 29. “We do not want the Vice Chancellor to come to NEHU campus after his leave is over. The students’ ongoing agitation, which could harm their health, should not continue because of the incumbent VC,” War told the media.
NEHUSU General Secretary Toniho S. Kharsati signaled that the union would consider MTD’s appeal to halt the hunger strike and explore alternative methods of protest. “We will convene a meeting soon to decide the next course of action,” Kharsati stated, underscoring the students’ determination to sustain their demands until meaningful action is taken.
Despite repeated calls for resolution, the students remain steadfast in their insistence on removing Prof. Shukla and the implicated officials. The student union’s grievances have been echoed at higher levels, with Meghalaya’s Governor and NEHU’s Chief Rector, Chandrashekhar H. Vijayashankar, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, and Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma appealing to students to end their protest. The Chief Minister conveyed that he had briefed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan about the crisis and urged a swift resolution.
In their pursuit of intervention, NEHU students reached out to President Droupadi Murmu, detailing the institution’s decline under the current administration and seeking her involvement. They argue that under Shukla’s leadership, NEHU’s ranking in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has fallen from 80 to 101, a regression they attribute to administrative incompetence and poor governance.
Before taking leave, Vice Chancellor Shukla made repeated efforts to convince the students to end their strike, offering assurances of an inquiry committee to examine their demand for the removal of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar. However, NEHUSU General Secretary Kharsati expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “We are not happy with his clarifications. The agitation will continue until our demands are met.”
The Ministry of Education has since formed a two-member inquiry committee headed by former University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. D P Singh, with former Assam University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dilip Chandra Nath as the second member. This committee is tasked with investigating the allegations and providing recommendations within 15 days.
As NEHU’s community awaits the outcome of this inquiry, the future of the university hangs in the balance. The prevailing discontent underscores deeper systemic issues that extend beyond administrative appointments and infrastructural neglect, raising questions about leadership, governance, and accountability at one of northeast India’s most significant educational institutions.
(the writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com)
