The two-member inquiry committee appointed by the Ministry of Education to investigate allegations of mismanagement and administrative failures against the incumbent Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has submitted its report to the Ministry.
Confirming this, Meghalaya Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang stated, “They have submitted the report; the report has been perused by the Ministry also. But what decisions they have taken, that has not been conveyed to us.”
Wahlang clarified that the state government has no role to play in the internal affairs of NEHU, emphasizing that it is a central university. “From the law-and-order point of view, our duty is to ensure that the environment remains conducive and there is no breakdown of law and order. But as far as the affairs of the university are concerned, it’s a central university, and we have to be very cautious. It’s not a state university; we cannot take any decision on behalf of NEHU,” he said.
He further stated that he has been in regular contact with officials at the Ministry of Education and will meet with the Secretary of Higher Education and the Additional Secretary in Delhi on January 13. “I’ll be meeting the Secretary of Higher Education to brief him on the situation since he has just joined. We have some specific agendas to discuss, and we are hoping these discussions will lead to solutions for the NEHU issue,” Wahlang added.
The inquiry committee, led by Prof. D.P. Singh, former UGC Chairman, and Prof. Dilip Chandra Nath, former Vice Chancellor of Assam University, was tasked with preparing a report based on its findings. Although the report was expected to be submitted by November 29, the Ministry has yet to announce its course of action regarding the matter.
The state government remains hopeful that the Ministry will arrive at a resolution soon to address the concerns surrounding NEHU.