The North Eastern Hill University Teachers Association (NEHUTA) has demanded the resignation of Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla for his alleged anti-local sentiments and numerous wrongdoings.
Members of the teacher’s association held a demonstration today in front of the VC’s office with a “dossier of the wrongdoings” and accused him of making appointments that suites those close to the helm of powers in New Delhi.
NEHUTA president Prof. Lakhon Kma said Shukla was appointed with the agenda to bring in people from Delhi.
According to Kma, in 2023 from August to November the Vice Chancellor appointed 78 teachers, out of which only six were residents of Meghalaya (both tribal and non tribal). He alleged that those coming in from Delhi hardly understand English.
He also alleged that for the posts of non teaching staff, including in the office of Deputy Registrar, whose interview was conducted last week, not even single local was appointed. “This shows that this man has one agenda that is to appoint individuals with affiliation to one believe in both teaching and non teaching and if he gets an opportunity, he will say reservation has to be done away with,” Kma alleged.
The NEHUTA president said he had sought the intervention of the government and the opposition a year ago but nothing was done by anybody, despite the fact that there are many eligible people from the state who could be appointed in NEHU. However, locals are not getting employed even as non teaching staff, he added.
Kma said a day will when come posts of clerks, peon and chowkidar will be taken by people from outside the state.
“These politicians at the drop of a hat profess their love for the indigenous people of the state and time has come to demand from them that if they do so they should take up these issues affecting us,” he stated.
Kma alleged that Shukla has anti local sentiments and the people of the state should also demand his dismissal.
Further, the dossier prepared by the association was ever since Shukla took over the office and was also submitted to President Draupadi Murmu, who is also the Visitor of the university, the PMO, the Governor, the MPs of the state and Leader of the Opposition.
The association had grievances over some of the pending issues which are yet to be resolved include arbitrary appointment/reappointment of Deans of various schools violating the NEHU Statute and the established practice of appointment of Deans by rotation according to seniority, long-pending Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) cases for all stages including from Stage 5 to 6 (senior professor) and opening of envelopes concerning correction of date of promotion of faculty members.
