VC must not handpick probe panel members: NEHUTA
SHILLONG, Nov 3: The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) on Sunday said if a committee is constituted to probe the alleged irregularities in the university, it should be free from any kind of influence by Vice Chancellor Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla.
NEHUTA president Lakhon Kma told The Shillong Times the members of the inquiry committee cannot be handpicked by Prof Shukla.
He said they have to be recommended by NEHUTA, North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU), North-Eastern Hill University Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA), Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association (MeTTA-NEHU) and other stakeholders of the university.
“The inquiry committee will be totally biased if the members are handpicked by the VC,” Kma said.
When the demand to remove Registrar Colonel (retd) Omkar Singh and some alleged illegal appointees intensified, the VC had stated that he was prepared to face any inquiry against him.
“I can institute an inquiry to investigate the allegations against me, or perhaps, the government can establish an inquiry committee. I am open to any kind of inquiry,” Prof Shukla had stated.
Kma said during the general body meeting of NEHUTA, a decision was made to extend full support to the demand for the removal of the Registrar, two Deputy Registrars and other illegal appointees.
The NEHUSU and the NEHU unit of Khasi Students’ Union had earlier issued an ultimatum to the VC, asking him to terminate the services of the Registrar and all alleged illegal appointees by November 4 midnight. They also asked him to appoint Pro Vice Chancellors for NEHU’s Shillong and Tura campuses.
NEHUSU general secretary Toniho S Kharsati warned that failure to address these issues will compel the union to consider further actions in the best interests of the student community.
The MeTTA-NEHU also endorsed the demand for the removal of the Registrar and the two Deputy Registrars. It expressed concern over the state of affairs in NEHU, particularly alleged irregularities in the functioning of the trio.
Claiming that they have no knowledge of the rules, regulations and administrative procedures, the MeTTA-NEHU said the same was reflected in many official correspondences which they issued from time to time.
NEHUNSA has already announced an indefinite pen-down and tool-down strike from Monday in protest against the inordinate delay in recruiting people in the posts advertised last year.
The association had set an October-end deadline for the university authorities to publish the syllabus and the date of written examination.
NEHUNSA general secretary JP Nongbri said the varsity authorities have failed to expedite the recruitment process despite several communications and reminders for a year. The advertisement for the posts was published on November 3, 2023.