Under pressure from various quarters in North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Shillong campus, Sherwin M Sungoh, today resigned from her post.
Soon after she took over as Pro VC on March 21, the NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and NEHU Non-teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) urged her to resign from her post. However, NEHUTA were in favour of her taking on the role of Acting VC, which Sungoh today also left the door open to.
In an email sent to the Centre, copied to NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla, she said that, considering the prevailing situation in the university and demands of the stakeholders, it has been difficult for her to function as Pro VC under such extreme pressure.
Furthermore, Sungoh said that because Shukla has not physically resumed duty in NEHU since going on leave in December, and because her financial and administrative power “is too limited”, it is not possible to cope with the day-to-day functions of the varsity.
Shukla was the subject of sustained protests against the way he ran NEHU, which eventually led him to leave the state, though he has not relinquished or been removed from his post.
Sungoh also said that the school board meetings of the university are already over and the recommendations are awaiting approval of the Academic Council/Executive Council, which she is not in a position to convene.
“Admission of new batches of students will commence from the next academic session, therefore, it is imperative to find out an amicable solution to the existing problems before it is too late,” she stated.
According to Sungoh, NEHU is also faced with pending court cases, affiliation and many other academic related matters.
“In the given circumstances stated above, I prefer to tender my resignation from the post of Pro Vice-Chancellor and will function as the Vice-Chancellor (In-charge), by virtue of being the next senior-most Professor, as per Statute 2(A)(5)(1) of the University, with adequate administrative and financial power, with immediate effect,” she said.
