NEHUTA seek Guv’s intervention into violations of COVID-19 norms by VC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 30, 2020

The North Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) has sought the intervention of the Governor Tathagata Roy, who is also the Chief Rector, into the alleged violation COVID-19 norms and statutes by the incumbent vice chancellor of the university.  

NEHUTA president Prof XP Mao in a statement on Saturday informed that the association had submitted a brief to the Governor against the recent vitiation of the academic atmosphere of the primier university by the vice chancellor Prof SK Srivastava by ignoring COVID protocols.

Prof Mao also alleged that the vice chancellor in a recent circular had asked the head of departments (HoDs) to report which faculty has gone out of Shillong during lockdown.

“The Governor has been apprised…at this inhumanitarian and blatant violation of COVID norms by the VC in order to harass and intimidate faculty members during COVID lockdown,” he said.

He said the association also expressed its anxiety and concern at Pro Vice-Chancellor Tura’s recent diktat asking teachers to report to him in Tura in violation of COVID protocols, to which the state administration in Tura reportedly expressed its concern as well.

The NEHUTA further expressed its firm resentment against unlawful removal of two Heads of the Department during lockdown without any rhyme or reason, which is an act of undoing the University in this hour of crisis, while terming it as deliberate vitiation of functioning of the two departments.

It also slammed the inhumanitarian and insensitive inaction of the VC in not depositing two years of pending earmarked NEHUTA  grant to PM Cares or to CM’s relief funds to help the nation in fighting against the coronavirus pandemic.

The NEHUTA also stated how the VC attempted to derecognize NEHUTA and deny teachers their right to association and collective bargain by declaring during lockdown that current elected body’s terms has expired and the VC shall not entertain any communication from NEHUTA.

“Such arbitrary, unlawful and dictatorial action by the VC during COVID is another glaring instance of how much he has damaged the academic and administrative fabric of the premier university.

Further NEHU’s slide into ignominy during the last four and half years of tenure of the incumbent VC for not promoting any academic excellence and specialized research centres despite initiatives by the Government of India has been presented factually to the Chief Rector,” Prof Mao said.

Meanwhile, the NEHUTA drew the attention of the Chief Rector to the fact that how the VC conducted himself without approval of mandatory annual report and annual accounts and budgets in the University court. 

Not discussing audit reports in the university court as per the Act of Parliament is another serious matter on which the NEHUTA expressed its grave concern, it stated.

The NEHUTA stated these violations as critical to be corrected in the right way to restore the university to its noble objects.

The brief urged upon the chief rector to initiate due process on these serious violations and help NEHU to remain on the right course.