Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, the Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), has extended his leave until December 13 due to ongoing protests and a pending inquiry into allegations of mismanagement and administrative failures at the university.
Protests continue on campus as students and other stakeholders have gathered to prevent Prof. Shukla from returning, following expectations that he would resume his duties on Monday. The NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) has announced plans to lock the university gates and maintain their demand for the Vice Chancellor’s removal.
Prof. Nirmalendu Saha, the Vice Chancellor in charge, confirmed that Prof. Shukla’s leave was extended from November 30 to December 13. Saha speculated that the Ministry of Education may have instructed the Vice Chancellor to stay on leave during the inquiry process, although he stated he was not directly informed. The Ministry-appointed two-member committee tasked with investigating the situation at NEHU has yet to submit its report, and a decision will be made once it is received.
Classes at NEHU have been suspended for nearly a month due to the protests, which are led by NEHUSU and supported by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU – NEHU Unit). The student groups temporarily halted their indefinite hunger strike after several students were hospitalized following 16 days of fasting.
Prof. Saha stated that he would convene an emergency meeting of the Academic Council soon to discuss the possibility of resuming classes. “I am in talks with the students and will try to convince them to resume classes, as their education is at risk. If we can restart even some classes, it would help. We may need to continue for two or three weeks after the winter break before the exams,” he said.
Tribal groups seek Presidential intervention
The Meghalaya Indigenous Tribal Constitutional Right Movement (MITCRM) has called on President Droupadi Murmu to intervene and resolve the ongoing crisis at NEHU. The movement, which includes several organizations such as the Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Ka Bri U Hynniewtrep, KWADA, North East Students’ Organisation, KSU, FKJGP, Seng Longkmie, and leaders from Garo Hills, passed a resolution on November 14 addressing the issues at the university.
In a letter to President Murmu, who is also the Visitor to NEHU, MITCRM declared Prof. Shukla a “persona non grata” due to his alleged inhumane treatment of the protesting students. MITCRM General Secretary RL Blah also called for a total boycott of the Vice Chancellor in Meghalaya.
Earlier, Prof. Shukla had requested additional security from central forces, claiming his life may be at risk due to the ongoing unrest on campus.
