By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 11: The North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the NEHU unit of Khasi Students’ Union lodged a complaint with President of India Droupadi Murmu against Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla on Monday for his absence from duties amidst the ongoing indefinite hunger strike by the students.
In a joint letter to the President who is also the Visitor of the university, the two student bodies said even after seven days of the hunger strike, the VC has failed to fulfil his responsibilities.
“The absence of the VC, without any prior notice or information, is a serious concern and reflects poorly on his leadership and his ability to address the ongoing crisis. Instead of actively engaging in resolving the issues related to the hunger strike, the VC’s failure to respond or even be present on campus highlights his inability to effectively manage the situation,” the letter stated.
It also said that the hunger strike has already begun to take a severe toll on the health of the protesting students.
“Several of them have been hospitalised due to deteriorating health conditions, including seizures and dangerously low levels of blood pressure and blood sugar. The absence of the VC, coupled with the lack of communication about when he will return, has left the protesting students’ lives in jeopardy,” the letter further said.
The two student unions further stated that Prof Shukla’s failure to address their concerns or even provide a timely response raises questions about his competence and responsibility as the VC.
They said with under-graduate examinations round the corner, the VC’s absence has created a leadership vacuum in the administration.
“No interim measures have been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the exams, which affects not only the students of the university but also those studying in the affiliated colleges. This failure to provide leadership at a critical juncture is putting the academic futures of many students in jeopardy,” they said.
Stating that this is not the first instance of such behaviour, they said the VC has a history of being absent or unresponsive during times of crisis, further undermining the trust and confidence that the student community had in his leadership.
According to them, his repeated failures to carry out duties in times of urgency has led to widespread frustration among the students.
“In light of these serious issues, the students’ community no longer feels that the Vice Chancellor is fit to lead the university. His incompetence, lack of responsiveness, and apparent disregard for the welfare of the students have severely impacted the credibility of the institution. We, therefore, request that the Vice Chancellor be removed from his position immediately, as he has demonstrated an inability to carry out the responsibilities required of the office,” they wrote in the letter to the President.
They urged her to take swift and appropriate action to address these concerns and ensure that the university functions smoothly in the best interest of its students.