NESO seek Pradhan’s intervention to end NEHU crisis

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 12, 2024

The North East Students’ Organization (NESO) on Tuesday shot a letter to the Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan seeking his immediate intervention for resolving the ongoing crisis in the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).

This came in the wake of the ongoing indefinite hunger strike protest led by the North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) backed by the Khasi Students Union (KSU-NEHU Unit) demanding the removal of the incumbent vice chancellor Prof PS Shukla, registrar, deputy registrar and other officials. The university has been put under total lockdown as the protest entered the eighth day.

“The NESO strongly supports the above demands aired by the NEHUSU and the KSU NEHU Unit on behalf of the students’ community as all the demands are legitimate and are of serious concern that seeks immediate rectification so as to once again raised the status of NEHU into prominence as was in the past. In fine, the NESO humbly appeals to your office to kindly intervene at the earliest so as to ensure that the quality of education in the region and the country is not compromised,” NESO chairman Samuel B Jyrwa said in a letter to Pradhan.

“The management of the university under the leadership of the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Prabhakar Shankar Shukla, and Registrar, Col. Omkar Singh (Retd.), has reached an untenable state, with significant and alarming consequences for the academic standards, infrastructure, and reputation of the institution. The decline in the university’s rankings is a stark reflection of the failure of the administration to fulfil its core responsibilities,” he said while adding “Prior to the appointment of Prof. PS Shukla as Vice-Chancellor, NEHU was consistently ranked within the top 60 universities nationally. However, under his leadership, the university’s ranking has plummeted to range between 100-150, a sharp decline in just three years. This drop in performance is an urgent cause for concern and calls for immediate corrective action.”

Jyrwa however said that despite repeated efforts by the two Students’ Unions to bring forward the concerns of the student body through memorandums and Charters of Demands, the Vice-Chancellor has consistently failed to address the pressing issues affecting the university. His dismissive attitude and failure to take proactive steps to resolve these concerns has created an atmosphere of dissatisfaction and distrust among the students.

Highlighting the most glaring issues under Prof Shukla’s leadership, the NESO said that the University continues to suffer from severe shortages, including inadequate hostel facilities, poorly managed laboratories, and a lack of staff to maintain the smooth functioning of academic and administrative departments. Despite having sanctioned posts that remain vacant, the Vice-Chancellor has failed to take appropriate measures to fill these positions in a timely manner.

Slamming the VC for unfulfilled recruitment drives, the NESO said the Vice-Chancellor has frequently announced recruitment drives precisely twice since he joined the University to fill vacant posts, only to have them cancelled without proper justification, creating a sense of false hope and disappointment among applicants. Such inconsistency undermines the integrity of the recruitment process and further damages the university’s credibility.

In regards to the disruption of academic processes, it alleged that the Vice-Chancellor has failed to ensure the smooth functioning of the university’s academic and administrative activities, including the Academic Council meetings, which have been repeatedly disrupted and cancelled under his leadership. This has further deteriorated confidence in his ability to lead the university effectively.

Alleging at the incompetence of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar, the students organization said that the appointment of Col. Omkar Singh as Registrar is highly questionable. His background is in the military, and he lacks any relevant academic experience, which is essential for someone in charge of managing the academic affairs of a university. His tenure as the Controller of Examination (Incharge) was marked by inefficiency, with significant delays in conducting exams and declaring results, highlighting his inability to perform basic administrative duties.

“Additionally, the appointment of Amit Gupta as Deputy Registrar (Academics) raises serious concerns regarding the fairness and transparency of the university’s recruitment process.

Gupta was deemed ineligible during the 2022 recruitment drive owing to him not having adequate experience for the same post, yet he was later appointed as the Deputy Registrar in 2024, despite the clear contradiction in his previous eligibility status. Such irregularities in the recruitment process call into question the credibility and integrity of the administration,” it said.

Accusing the VC of indulging in unethical appointments, the NESO said, “We are deeply concerned by the Vice-Chancellor’s recent decisions to appoint individuals who have already reached the age of superannuation, including the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for the Director of College Development Council (CDC) and the Guest House Incharge. These actions not only raise ethical concerns but also reflect a lack of long-term planning and foresight in building a competent and sustainable workforce for the future of the university. In 2023, the Vice-chancellor appointed Rohit Prasad as his advisor, a position created at his sole discretion without any advertisement or transparent selection process. This decision was met with strong opposition from the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which included both students and faculty members, and led to Mr. Rohit Prasad’s eventual removal from the position. Furthermore, the Vice-Chancellor has made the questionable decision to create and appoint an individual to the post of Campus Director for the Tura campus, a role that was established without any formal process or institutional justification. This is in direct contradiction to established norms, as the university has historically been led by a Pro-Vice Chancellor for each of its campuses, a position that remains unfilled due to the Vice-chancellor’s inaction.”

The letter stated that another serious concern is the Vice-Chancellor’s frequent and extended absences from the university.

“His absence has resulted in significant disruptions to the day-to-day functioning of the university, particularly in the decision-making processes. Crucial administrative decisions have often been delayed or kept on hold due to his unavailability, and there is a clear lack of continuity in leadership.

This issue is exacerbated by the absence of a Pro-Vice Chancellor for both the Shillong and Tura campuses,” it said.

It further alleged that prior to the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure, both campuses had Pro-Vice Chancellors, who played an essential role in maintaining the smooth operation of each campus. However, despite repeated requests and efforts from the university community, the Vice-chancellor has failed to take the necessary steps to appoint Pro-Vice Chancellors since he joined the university as a VC, further exacerbating the leadership vacuum within the institution. Instead of focusing on the essential development and improvement of the university, the Vice-chancellor has engaged in activities that undermine the integrity of the institution.

“The continued failure to address these issues has led to a loss of confidence in his leadership, and it is imperative that urgent action is taken to restore the university’s reputation and ensure its future growth. Given these grave concerns, the NEHU Students’ Union strongly demands the immediate termination of Prof. PS Shukla, Col. Omkar Singh, Amit Gupta, and all other incompetent staff members whose actions have directly contributed to the deterioration of the university,” the NESO stated while adding that  “the future of NEHU requires leadership that is committed to academic excellence, transparency, and the welfare of its students, and we believe that such leadership can only be ensured through significant administrative change”.