Shillong, Jan 12: The North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union today met Governor CH Vijayashankar over the continuing administrative crisis at the university, which has now stretched into its second year.
NEHU has been in an unwelcome predicament due to the prolonged absence of its Vice-Chancellor, Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla, since late 2024, the resignation of NEHU Shillong’s Pro VC, Prof Sumarbin Umdor, on December 15 and the reluctance of NEHU Tura Pro VC, Prof FK Marak, to take charge.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor, NEHUSU and the KSU demanded the removal of Shukla as the VC, the appointment of an acting VC “strictly” in accordance with the university’s statutes, ensure early disclosure and action on the inquiry committee report that was constituted by the central government and to address the severe financial constraints affecting the university.
The two student bodies stated that it is a matter of grave and unprecedented concern that the regular VC of the university has remained continuously absent from his headquarters and official duties at NEHU Shillong for 422 days.
“As a direct consequence of the continued absence of the Vice-Chancellor and the prevailing leadership crisis, statutory bodies and committees have been unable to function effectively, administrative and academic decision-making has been severely disrupted; institutional discipline and accountability mechanisms have weakened and students, faculty members, and non-teaching staff have faced serious hardship due to the absence of effective and accountable leadership,” NEHUSU and KSU stated in their memo.
They also informed the Governor that the university headquarters has been functioning without any academic or administrative head, resulting in a complete vacuum in institutional leadership.
Meanwhile, the report of the inquiry committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Education on November 14, 2024 to inquire into allegations of mismanagement and administrative failures at NEHU has neither been submitted nor made public, nor has any official clarification been issued regarding its status.
The student bodies said that the prolonged non-disclosure of the inquiry findings has deepened uncertainty, mistrust and administrative instability within the university.
NEHUSU and the KSU also stated that the university is presently facing serious financial stress, which has been exacerbated by the prolonged administrative vacuum and absence of effective statutory leadership.
They informed that the non-salary budget allocation of the University has been reduced from Rs 53 crore to Rs 31 crore for 2025-26, resulting in a substantial shortfall that has directly impacted the university’s functioning.
As a consequence, NEHU has been compelled to impose severe austerity measures, including an approximately 25 per cent reduction in departmental budgets, nearly 50 per cent curtailment of seminars, conferences, academic programmes and scholarly activities, curtailment of hostel maintenance, library resources and essential student services and suspension of guest faculty appointments and honorarium payments.
