The North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU Unit have submitted an official complaint to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, who serves as the Visitor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Meghalaya. The complaint, prompted by the ongoing indefinite hunger strike at NEHU, calls for the immediate removal of the Vice-Chancellor (VC) due to his absence from his duties amidst the ongoing indefinite hunger strike protest at the university.
In their letter, the student unions highlighted, “It has been seven days (146 hours) since the commencement of the hunger strike, and despite this prolonged period of student protest, the Vice-Chancellor has failed to fulfill his responsibilities. The absence of the VC, without any prior notice or information, is a serious concern and reflects poorly on his leadership and his ability to address the ongoing crisis. Instead of actively engaging in resolving the issues related to the hunger strike, the Vice-Chancellor’s failure to respond or even be present on campus highlights his inability to effectively manage the situation.”
The letter further underscored the severe toll the protest is taking on the health of the students, with several hospitalized due to low blood pressure, blood sugar, and seizures. “The absence of the VC, coupled with the lack of communication about when he will return, has left the protesting students’ lives in jeopardy. His failure to address their concerns or even provide a timely response raises questions about his competence and responsibility as the Vice-Chancellor,” The letter said.
With upcoming undergraduate exams, the unions highlighted the potential disruption caused by the leadership vacuum at NEHU, noting that no interim measures have been introduced to ensure exam continuity for university and affiliated college students.
“The absence of the Vice-Chancellor has created a leadership vacuum in the administration. No interim measures have been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the exams, which affects not only the students of the university but also those studying in the affiliated colleges. This failure to provide leadership at a critical juncture is putting the academic futures of many students in jeopardy,” the unions added.
The letter also emphasized that this was not an isolated incident, claiming that the Vice-Chancellor has previously been absent or unresponsive during crises, eroding student trust.
“The Vice-Chancellor has a history of being absent or unresponsive during times of crisis, further undermining the trust and confidence that the student community had in his leadership. His repeated failure to carry out his duties in times of urgency has led to widespread frustration among the students,” the letter asserted.
“In light of these serious issues, the students’ community no longer feels that the Vice- Chancellor is fit to lead the university. His incompetence, lack of responsiveness, and apparent disregard for the welfare of the students have severely impacted the credibility of the institution,” it added.
Given these issues, the unions called for the President’s urgent intervention to “We respectfully urge your office to take swift and appropriate action to address these concerns and ensure that the university functions smoothly in the best interest of its students.”