Under fire Vice-Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), PS Shukla, today proffered an olive branch to agitating students and staff in the hope of restoring a semblance of normalcy to the troubled institute of higher education, which is Meghalaya’s only central university.
In a lengthy press release, forwarded to Highland Post through Samgar Sangma, a technical assistant at NEHU’s Tura campus, Shukla proposed the formation of a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Committee’ comprising retired judges, educationists and community elders “to objectively review the grievances and also recommend a roadmap for institutional healing.”
He also called for a special session of the NEHU Academic Council and Executive Council to be held jointly with student representatives in order to initiate a new era of shared governance and collaborative policymaking. He added that he is committed to initiating long-term institutional reforms, such as strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms; ensuring fair and transparent appointment processes; enhancing security and digital infrastructure; implementing academic audits and peer reviews; promoting intercultural dialogue and inclusive practices; and creating neutral platforms for student-teacher engagement.
Shukla was the subject of sustained protests late last year over the way he ran NEHU, which eventually led him to leave the state, though he has not relinquished or been removed from his post. His critics accuse him of not following proper procedure in appointments, financial irregularities and of being “anti-tribal”. The protests even extended to vandalism and destruction of property at his NEHU quarters.
In the release today Shukla maintained his innocence, saying that he continues to categorically deny any wrongdoing or violation of due process. The statement comes a day after his pick for Pro VC of the Shillong campus, Sherwin Sungoh, resigned from that position following much opposition.
“The appointment of Registrar, Deputy Registrar and the Pro Vice-Chancellors was done following the procedures and statutes laid down by the NEHU Act and with the concurrence or ratification of the Executive Council, the university’s highest statutory, decision-making body,” Shukla said. “Unfortunately, a series of protests followed, orchestrated with motives that extended beyond the legitimate interests of student welfare or institutional development. The call to escalate protests, the blockade of official residences and the targeted attacks, verbal and physical, on university functionaries were not only unjustified but illegal and dangerous. The vandalisation of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, destruction of property, damage to official vehicles and threats to family members residing within the campus cannot be condoned under any circumstance.”
These actions were not spontaneous, the VC suspects, but part of a “concerted attempt” to destabilise the varsity’s functioning and to intimidate officials. Shukla called for the judiciary and police to take action against any lawbreaking that was a result of the protests.
Nevertheless, he added that he still remains open to discussion with those having grievances. Shukla explained that the appointment of the two Pro VCs (Fameline Marak of the Tura campus being the other) was carried out properly as their nominations were approved by a meeting of the Executive Council in November. The meeting, he said, was carried out online due to the disruptions.
Such was the level of protest against Shukla, the Union Ministry of Education constituted an inquiry, which the VC said he fully cooperated with. The report of this committee has not been made public but Shukla said that he is ready to follow any decision the central government takes.
Shukla also took aim at university officials, like the acting VC and members of a newly constituted internal committee, who, he said, “assumed powers beyond their constitutional and administrative mandate”. These individuals, Shukla alleged, broke into the Registrar’s office, accessed confidential records and tampered with official files. Senior university officials also failed to report acts of violence and illegal entry to police, “which hints at complicity or, at the very least, gross negligence”.
