Daily sit-in continues as classes remain hampered
SHILLONG, Nov 26: The two-member central probe committee has completed its inquiry into the alleged “wrongs” committed by Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla.
Former UGC Chairman Prof DP Singh, who heads the committee, along with other officials left for New Delhi on Tuesday. Former Vice Chancellor of Assam University Prof Dilip Chandra Nath, the other member of the committee, had to leave on Monday night after the inspection as one of his relatives had expired.
The teachers, students and non-teaching staff of NEHU are anxiously waiting for the report of the two-member committee which is likely to be submitted to the Ministry of Education on November 29. The findings of the report are likely to decide the future of Prof Shukla who has been declared a persona non grata by the NEHUSU and NEHUTA.
Restoration of normalcy in NEHU will also depend entirely on the report of the committee, the NEHUSU and KSU NEHU unit said, while adding that they will take a decision to allow resumption of normal classes after learning the outcome of the report.
The students, meanwhile, continued with their sit-in from 9 am to 5 pm outside the premises of the university administrative building.
NEHU VC in-charge, Prof Nirmalendu Saha told The Shillong Times that the two-member committee collected all the necessary information and documents and interacted with all the stakeholders including NEHUSU, NEHUTA, NEHUNSA, officials and Deans since they wanted to hear from everyone.
“Whatever information was sought by the committee has been provided. There are very happy with the cooperation which they have received from all the stakeholders of the university,” Prof Saha said.
The VC in-charge said the committee verified and cross-checked each and every point mentioned in the internal report of the university.
He informed that they also inspected the infrastructure and facilities and witnessed the dilapidated condition of the hostels and roads and the absence of streetlight inside the campus.
“Now we will have to wait and see what kind of report the committee will submit to the Ministry,” Prof Saha said.
Replying to a query, he said that the student bodies have not yet allowed classes to resume as they are waiting for the outcome of the report.
He said that they have partially allowed some of the scholars to resume their research work while the offices have started to function normally.
Replying to a query, Prof Saha said as per the notification, he will remain as the VC in-charge till November 29 since Prof Shukla’s leave will end on that date.
In his leave application, Prof Shukla had mentioned that he was leaving the campus on Earned Leave with effect from November 17, 2024 to November 29, 2024 “due to some unavoidable circumstances”.