SHILLONG: The North Eastern Hill University Teachers Association (NEHUTA) has expressed resentment against the ‘unlawful’ removal of two heads of the department during the lockdown and asked Governor and Chief Rector of NEHU, Tathagata Roy to take action against Vice-Chancellor Prof SK Srivastava.
NEHUTA has accused the vice chancellor of ignoring COVID protocols and termed it as an ‘act of undoing the University in this hour of crisis and a deliberate vitiation of the functioning of the two academic departments’.
The association also expressed concern at the recent ‘diktat’ by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Tura asking teachers to report to him which is in violation of COVID protocol, to which the state administration in Tura reportedly expressed its concern as well.
In a statement, NEHUTA also raised the issue of a recent circular by Prof Srivastava to the HoDs to report which faculty member had left Shillong during the lockdown. ‘NEHUTA is deeply dismayed at the blatant violation of COVID norms by the VC by harassing and intimidating faculty members during the lockdown,’ the statement said, adding that the Governor has been apprised of the VC’s move by the association.
NEHUTA further questioned the action of the VC for not depositing two years of pending earmarked NEHUTA grant towards PM CARES and the CM Relief Fund to help the nation fight the virus.
Moreover, NEHUTA also alleged that Prof Srivastava had attempted to derecognize the association and deny teachers their right to an association and collective bargain by declaring during the lockdown that the current elected body’s term has expired and that he will no longer communicate with NEHUTA. ‘Such arbitrary, unlawful and dictatorial action by the VC during the lockdown is another glaring instance of how much he has damaged the academic and administrative fabric of the premier university,’ said the statement.
Further, NEHU’s slide into ignominy during the last four and half years of the tenure of the VC for not promoting any academic excellence and specialized research centres despite initiatives by the Centre was also presented to the chief rector, it said.
The association also apprised the Governor on how the VC conducted himself without approval of mandatory annual report and annual accounts and budgets in the University court. ‘Not discussing audit reports in the university court is another serious matter on which the NEHUTA expressed its grave concern,’ it said.
The NEHUTA said these ‘critical’ violations need to be corrected to restore the prestige of the university and to keep it on the right course.