Guwahati: The Ministry of Education has appointed Prof. Amrendra Kumar Das of IIT Guwahati as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University with immediate effect.
The ministry has ordered a high-level enquiry into the ongoing administrative crisis and allegations surrounding the Assam-based central university.
According to an official communication issued by the Department of Higher Education, Government of India, Prof. Das, who is currently serving in the Department of Design at IIT Guwahati, has been appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University with immediate effect.
The terms and conditions of his service will be governed by the provisions laid down in the Tezpur University Act, Statutes and Ordinances. The appointment has been approved by the competent authority.
The Ministry also issued an Office Memorandum constituting an Enquiry Committee under Section 9 of the Tezpur University Act, 1993, to examine all matters related to the ongoing situation at Tezpur University, including allegations levelled against the Vice-Chancellor.
The panel will be headed by Prof. Lokendra Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University. The other members are Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, and Prof. Manish R. Joshi, Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC).
The memorandum directed the Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University to recuse himself from all official responsibilities and proceed on leave with immediate effect, pending completion of the enquiry.
The committee has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive enquiry into the findings and recommendations of the Fact-Finding Committee report submitted earlier to the Office of the Chancellor.
It will also examine the circumstances that led to the present crisis in the university, including resignations and assumption of charges by various university functionaries. The committee is authorised to visit the campus, meet stakeholders, review relevant documents and records, and examine any other matter it deems necessary.
The Ministry has also asked the committee to submit its report at the earliest, within a maximum period of three months from the date of issuance of the memorandum. The UGC will provide secretarial support, and the Ministry has instructed Tezpur University authorities to extend full cooperation and furnish all required assistance.
The developments mark a direct intervention by the Centre aimed at restoring administrative stability and addressing governance-related concerns at Tezpur University.
