Under-fire North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Vice-Chancellor, Prof S K Srivastava, has been accused by the NEHU Teachers Association (NEHUTA) of barging into the residence of a faculty member and intimidating him and his family members.
According to NEHUTA president Prof Xavier Mao, Srivastava, on the pretext of having some official work, confronted the faculty member (who was not named in today’s press release) “at odd hours” on March 30.
“NEHUTA strongly condemns such an untoward move by the VC on the pretext of getting some official work done from the concerned faculty member. Conducting an illegal raid-like intrusion and trespass on the private space of the faculty is unprecedented in NEHU history,” NEHUTA stated.
Although Mao did not name the staff member, it is likely that the man in question is the one who had faced trumped up criminal charges that were later dismissed after a lengthy police investigation. He had reportedly had to endure the unpleasant ordeal because he would not acquiesce when it was demanded that he take part in illegal activities.
The Vice Chancellor, on his visit to the staff member’s residence, was accompanied by the Pro-VC and security guards, Mao said adding that the whole experience has left emotional scars on the children and the wife of the faculty member who were present in the house at the time.
“NEHUTA looks at such an act of highhandedness as criminal on the part of the VC for blatantly abusing his official position. That the rule of law does not allow for such an unruly and arbitrary misuse and abuse of power is completely perpetrated by the term-expired VC, who somehow wanted to impose his whimsical wishes on the concerned faculty member.” the release added.
