Protests at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have reached a boiling point as students and faculty demand the resignation of Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, Registrar Omkar Singh, and Deputy Registrar Amit Gupta, citing administrative mismanagement and incompetence.
The NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU), joined by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU Unit, has been leading an indefinite hunger strike for three days, alongside other protests such as locking campus gates and burning effigies.
In response, the Vice Chancellor proposed the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the allegations against the officials, but students have rejected this move, insisting that immediate and decisive action is needed.
Students argue that the Vice Chancellor’s proposal to form an inquiry committee is vague and insufficient, particularly given the lengthy complaints that have been raised since October.
NEHU Student’s Union (NEHUSU) leader Toniho S Kharsati talking to Media dismissed this as inadequate and overdue, saying, “The Vice Chancellor has given a very unclear, very vague answer that he will form a committee to address issues that we have highlighted since October.”
Kharsati criticized the timing, stating that such action should have been taken when initial complaints were raised months ago by staff and faculty. “The Vice Chancellor missed the bus on this; we’re not willing to wait any longer.”
Though Prof. Shukla tried to engage with the students in an informal talk, students remain resolute in their demands for leadership change.
Kharsati emphasized their stance: “We are very firm with our decision. Our demand is to remove the Vice Chancellor because of his incompetency. He asked for 10 more days, but we believe waiting in these conditions is unacceptable. This hunger strike will continue until the Vice Chancellor resigns.”
The protest escalated with students locking the university gates, forcing the administration’s attention. The student leader explained, “This act of locking the gates was our only option to get the Vice Chancellor to hear us. He attended events and a press conference while we were here on hunger strike, starving for 50 hours. We will keep the gates closed and continue the strike until he addresses our demands.”
Meanwhile, amidst all these happening at the university, in an official response, Vice Chancellor of the North Eastern Hill University Prof PS Shukla on Thursday assured to constitute an enquiry committee to look into the demand for removal of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar.
In his letter to the NEHUSU president, Prof Shukla has acknowledged that there are some issues raised against these individuals by the student’s community, demanding the removal of Registrar and Deputy Registrar.
“The University has some rules and regulations in place to deal with such issues. As a Vice-Chancellor, my role is to safeguard those rules and regulations under constitutional provisions.
Therefore, I am going to call a meeting of the Executive Council to form an enquiry committee within November 11. Based on the finding of the enquiry report, appropriate actions will be taken,” the VC said.
“I, as Vice Chancellor, agree in principle for the appointment of Pro Vice-Chancellors for facilitating the administration for Tura campus and Shillong campus following rules and regulations as per University Ordinances at the earliest (by 30th of November 2024),” he stated.
Appealing to the agitating students to call off their protest, the VC said, “I request and urge you to kindly call off the agitation so the normalcy returns in the University.”
The NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) and Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association (MeTTA) have endorsed the students’ demands, condemning what they describe as a pervasive “misuse of power” within the administration. Both groups support NEHUSU’s broader call for improved campus conditions, including the need for better amenities such as clean drinking water, WiFi, an ambulance service, and hostel fee revisions.
With strong faculty backing, student leaders reaffirmed their resolve, signaling that the hunger strike and other protest actions would persist until significant administrative changes are made.