The Joint Action Committee (JAC), which comprises teaching and non-teaching staff as well as students of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), is ready to talk to the Vice-Chancellor and university administration if the technical officer/senior consultant Rohit Prasad is removed from his post.
The JAC maintains that Prasad was appointed against the norms laid out in the varsity’s rules, though the VC disputes this. The JAC has previously called for a strike from Monday.
A war of words between the VC and JAC is being waged in the media, with each side holding its own press conferences and releasing separate statements against each other’s positions.
In a statement today, JAC chairman Prof Lakhon Kma said, “Once the illegally and illegitimately appointed technical officer/senior consultant is removed, JAC might be ready to talk on our charter of demands provided there is seriousness and willingness on the part of the VC in resolving the issues in a time bound manner.”
This came after the VC, Prof PS Shukla, had appealed to the JAC not to go ahead with the indefinite strike without verifying the status of its demands.
Kma, however, accused the VC of making false claims on the JAC’s charter of demands and said, “He (VC) has neither provided to the JAC any clarifications on the issues raised in our press conference held on November 8, 2023 on illegal appointment of technical officer/senior consultant and steps taken to remove him, his violations of Model UGC’s Cadre Recruitment Rules, NEHU Act and Statutes and Ordinances and other serious violations nor send any formal letter for talk with the JAC.”
“Amidst this turmoil in the University, instead of being in the University and finding ways to resolve the matter, he is out of station enjoying holidays till November 15. This shows the absolute lack of seriousness on his part to resolve the issues on an urgent basis. Perhaps, he likes to play with the careers of our students and spoil the academic atmosphere of the University by habit,” he said.
JAC chairman continued: “In order to avoid disruption of classes, he should have been in the station, shunt his insensitivities towards the welfare of the University and avoided the adamant and non responsive attitude towards the genuine demands of JAC, which has forced the it to start the indefinite strike starting from November 13.”
On the issue of appointment of statutory officers and University Engineer, Prof Kma said, “If the proposed date of interview has been fixed as appeared in the news, it is only because of pressure from JAC.”
Condemning the VC charging the JAC for making issues out of non-issues, he asked whether the illegal appointment of technical officer/senior consultant was a non-issue? He said by illegally and illiterately appointing him through an act of nepotism and favoritism, the VC have denied the Right to Equality as per Article 14 of the Constitution to eligible educated unemployed youths of Meghalaya and beyond.
He also asked if violations of the UGC Model CRR and violation of NEHU acts, statutes and ordinances are a non-issue? The VC is supposed to be the one guarding UGC and NEHU rules but instead he is the first one to violate them on numerous occasions, Kma alleged.
“Is deteriorating condition of the University Health Centre a non-issue?” VC’s complete lack of concern and understanding that medicines cannot be purchased through GeM (Government e Marketplace) led to the delay in the procurement of medicines. His inaction on timely appointments made the testing facility close down because of a lack of lab technicians required for it,” Kma said, adding, “Is re-upload of NEHU acts, statutes and ordinances on the NEHU official website a non-issue? As of 5pm on November 12, these are not present on the NEHU website.”
He also asked, “Is holding of regular convocation a non-issue? The reality is that the VC wanted X, Y, Z from Delhi, perhaps his political masters, and their non-confirmation led to cancellation of the convocations, impacting the students and reaffirms his insensitivities towards students and NEHU in general.”
“JAC would like to reiterate the VCis in a habit of telling a farrago of lies, half-truth and deceit, masquerading as a victim and trying to mislead everyone, but he is fully exposed by now,” the JAC release said.
