The NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) has again accused NEHU vice chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla of indulging in blatant anti-local and anti-tribal acts. It also demanded for an independent enquiry to expose the misdeeds of the vice chancellor.
In a statement issued today, the NEHUTA said that Prof. Shukla appointed four Deputy Registrars who are unqualified, inexperienced and unconnected with academics and “whom he can order and mislead”.
“None of them have any familiarity with NEHU or NEHU’s Act, Statute, Ordinances etc. The result is a crippling blow to functioning of academics, administrative, scientific, research related and other necessary works for which NEHU exists on earth,” the NEHUTA said.
It also said that the vice chancellor appointed a 62 year old professor in the Department of Education after he retired from his parent university.
“While there were qualified tribal and other candidates from NEHU itself, he ignored their qualifications and preferred to bring his yes man from nowhere and made him a professor. This is sacrificing all academic probity and standards,” the NEHUTA added.
It also alleged that Prof. Shukla appointed a professor in the Zoology Department “who does not qualify to be a professor under any rule and the matter is in the High Court of Meghalaya”.
“In the departments of Mathematics and Biomedical Engineering, he (Prof. Shukla) has appointed the same person as associate professor and professor in their respective department in the same interview which defies all logic and certainly there is more than meets the eyes. These are some examples of how he is killing NEHU and its academic progress which is going to impact the quality of higher education and the future of youths especially from Meghalaya and there are many more such examples,” the NEHUTA said.
NEHUTA alleged that a selection committee constituted by Prof. Shukla appointed Omkar Singh as Registrar of NEHU.
“Soon after Omkar Singh became Registrar, he appointed himself as Supervisor of the NTA exam in NEHU Centre and the exam was a complete catastrophe creating a situation of stampede and chaos, which is well reported in the media. He is of dubious integrity as he cannot undertake any other role like supervisor when he is the Registrar of the University,” it said.
Stating that Prof. Shukla’s only contribution to NEHU is bringing down whatever was left of it after disastrous six years of misrule by Prof. S K Srivastava, the NEHUTA said, “If Prof. Shukla is so clean, let him establish it before an independent enquiry committee composed of stakeholders from NEHU such as NEHUTA, NEHUNSA and NEHUSU and leaders from student bodies, NGOs, politicians across party lines from Meghalaya. Such a committee is much needed, as Prof. Shukla is playing with Act, Statute, Ordinance, Rules and Regulations of the university by violating all set procedures and standards.”
