SHILLONG: The NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) is planning to write to the Prime Minister, the President who is the Visitor of NEHU, the Human Resource Development Ministry, speakers of the two Houses and others to apprise them of the situation at the university.
NEHUTA president Xavier P. Mao told reporters that the most important duty of the university, “that is approval of the budget”, has been done without proper approval of the authority that is the University Court, which is supposed to be the highest authority.
“This was not done in the last three years under Professor SK Srivastava. Thereby, in a way, it is misleading and cheating Parliament,” Mao said. He added that even the annual report of the university was never placed before the Academic Council, the highest body in academic matters at the university. The annual account and audit has never been approved by the University Court. “As per procedure, after the Academic Council, the Executive Council is followed by the University Court meeting but this has never been done,” he said.
He said in the University setup, there are different bodies and authorities, such as the Board of Research Studies, School Board, department, Academic Council, Executive Council, University Court.
“For the last 3 years even the Board of Research Studies has never been convened and called by the VC which is a very serious matter. According to its Statutory provision, he (the VC) is supposed to circulate the draft minute within a week of the meeting but that has never been done,” he said.
According to Mao, the university is languishing and the NEHU’s ranking in National Institutional Ranking Framework has slipped further down which is a serious matter.
“We want cooperation and to take steps to further develop the university but then our appeals are completely ignored and most of the time the VC is away, like the Manipur University VC, for his personal matters,” he said, adding, “Office files are piled up. Retired teachers’ TA bills and pension have not been processed for months together. How will they survive?”
When asked whether NEHUTA would demand the VC’s removal, Mao said, “We will make a fresh move to urge the government to remove him, inform the central government authorities.”Mao alleged that Srivastava was incompetent and “many people are even complaining at the FECUTA (Federation of Central Universities Association) meeting in the last national convention in New Delhi that persons of absolute incompetence have been appointed”.
Mao pointed out that the Hill Area Special Allowance was abruptly cancelled without following a legal procedure. There are more than 200 teachers who are within the NEHUTA membership, including Tura campus. Within the Shillong campus headquarters, almost all are members. Mao informed that NEHUTA will take drastic step next year considering the forthcoming examination.
