The North-Eastern Hill University Students Union (NEHUSU) has reached out to cabinet minister M Ampareen Lyngdoh for her intervention in governance issues at the troubled varsity.
NEHUSU and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) have jointly submitted a memorandum urging the minister to address urgent governance and administrative challenges at NEHU.
They have reported that students and staff continue to protest and voice concerns regarding Vice-Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla’s failure to fulfill his duties effectively, as well as his alleged mismanagement of university affairs.
NEHU has been deadlocked after NEHUSU and the KSU staged a hunger strike on November 5, which was later suspended after receiving assurances from the Union Ministry of Education that necessary action would be taken. On November 14, the ministry issued an order to form an inquiry committee to investigate allegations against Shukla.
NEHUSU stated that, despite the committee’s visit, no official response or action has been taken, leaving the university community in a state of uncertainty and dissatisfaction. “Given the severity of the situation and the negative impact of this prolonged mismanagement on the university’s academic and administrative integrity, we trust in your leadership to take decisive steps towards resolving these pressing issues,” it told Lyngdoh.
The memorandum also called on the minister to advocate for the immediate removal of Shukla as VC and to replace other officials to ensure better governance, transparency and a brighter future for the university.
