North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) vice chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla today rejected the demand of NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) for removal of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar of the university.
The demand for removal of NEHU Registrar Omkar Singh and Deputy Registrar Amit Gupta was raised not only by NEHUSU but also by the NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA).
Speaking at a press conference here, Prof. Shukla said removal of the two officials cannot be executed based on unilateral decisions or personal discretion.
“The Registrar and Deputy Registrar were appointed following a thorough screening process and formal interviews. Their roles and continuity in service are governed by due processes, not by arbitrary decisions from any single authority, including the vice chancellor,” Prof. Shukla said.
He said that both the officials were appointed through the cadre recruitment rules, which is available on the website of the university.
The vice chancellor said that one of the provisions in the cadre recruitment rules is to have a selection committee consisting of five to seven members who will appoint the Registrar and Deputy Registrar.
He said that the committee has representatives from the SC and ST communities.
“The interview was conducted not only in front of the vice chancellor alone but in front of the selection committee and finally the decision was taken by it, not by the vice chancellor,” Prof. Shukla said.
On allegations that the Registrar and Deputy Registrar don’t know their brief, Prof. Shukla said that the Registrar has been appointed for almost a year and if there is any objection to the same it should have been made much earlier.
According to Prof. Shukla, as has been reported in the media, associations such as NEHUTA, NEHUNSA, and NEHUSU have already brought their concerns to the government, including the President of India.
He said that if the government suspects any irregularities, it may consider forming an inquiry committee to examine the matter.
He also said that the removal of Officer on Special Duty (Director, College Development Council) and Guest House In-charge as demanded by the NEHUSU cannot be entertained due to the same reasons.
Prof. Shukla also added that as of now, there has been no communication from the Ministry or the President’s office to the vice chancellor’s office indicating such an action (to remove the officials).
The vice chancellor also said that termination of the service of a government employee cannot occur without valid and substantial reasons.
“If there are indeed concerns or reasons for any such action, the process would begin with an inquiry, not an immediate termination,” he said.
Regarding the roles of the Officer on Special Duty (Director, College Development Council), Prof. Shukla said that he had approached many professors to consider taking the post, however no one gave their consent.
He said that he is still willing to appoint any Professor who is ready to work as the Director of the College Development Council.
As for Guest House In-charge, he said that NEHU currently faces a shortage of non-teaching staff.
“Advertisements for the non-teaching staff positions have already been issued, and although the National Testing Agency (NTA) has declined to conduct the non-teaching recruitment exams, we have proceeded with tendering for alternative agencies. Multiple agencies have shown interest, and once the Registrar’s office reopens (currently closed due to protests), these files will move forward,” he said.
Prof. Shukla also said that when the recruitment process is successfully completed, the role of Guest House In-charge will naturally conclude.
On appointment of pro-vice chancellor in both Shillong and Tura campuses of NEHU, Prof. Shukla informed that the university has formally written to the Education Ministry for further clarification on this matter and is awaiting their response.
“I will write to the ministry again and if there is no response within December 2024, I will appoint two pro-vice chancellors for Shillong and Tura campuses from the local community only,” the NEHU vice chancellor said.
Denying allegations that he took decisions on various matters without following the rules and statutes of NEHU, Prof. Shukla said that when he joined as vice chancellor, he performed his duties as per the acts, norms, statutes of the university.
