The Vice Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prabha Shankar Shukla, has further extended his earned leave until December 29, amidst ongoing turmoil at the university.
This marks yet another extension of his absence, which began in early November following widespread protests.
In an official email addressed to the university’s Registrar on Monday, Prof. Shukla stated, “In continuation of my email dated December 1, 2024, regarding my earned leave, I request an extension of the same till December 27 (with December 28 and 29 as suffix) due to unforeseen circumstances.”
Prof. Shukla sought to reassure the administration that he remains available for any urgent academic or administrative matters during his leave.
He directed the Registrar to reach him via phone or email if required and designated the senior-most professor or Pro-Vice Chancellor to manage the routine operations of the university in his absence.
The Vice Chancellor’s decision to prolong his leave comes at a time when NEHU remains embroiled in significant unrest.
The situation began in early November when students, backed by both teaching and non-teaching staff, launched a series of protests against Prof. Shukla, accusing him of alleged mismanagement and an autocratic leadership style.
The agitation escalated further as students staged a hunger strike lasting over two weeks, drawing widespread attention to the crisis.
To address the allegations and the growing discontent within the university, the Ministry of Education had constituted a two-member committee to probe the irregularities.
On November 29, the committee sought an additional 15 days to complete its investigation and submit its findings.
However, the extended deadline of December 13 has now passed, and there has been no official word from the ministry on whether the report has been submitted or what its findings entail.
It is noteworthy that this is not the first instance of Prof. Shukla seeking an extension to his leave.
Initially, he wrote to the Ministry of Education on December 2, requesting “adequate security support from the central government” to enable him to return to his duties at NEHU.
However, citing unresolved circumstances, he extended his leave until December 13.
Now, with this latest extension, his absence will continue until December 29.
Prof. Shukla’s prolonged leave has further intensified uncertainty at NEHU, as the university struggles to maintain normalcy amid the ongoing tension.
The absence of clarity regarding the committee’s report and the Vice Chancellor’s prolonged absence have left both academic and administrative activities in a state of flux.
University stakeholders, including students, faculty, and staff, are now keenly awaiting decisive steps from the Ministry of Education to resolve the impasse and restore stability at NEHU.
