SHILLONG, Dec 1: An uneasy calm prevails in the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) campus with Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla due to resume charge on Monday at the end of his leave. The NEHUSU and KSU NEHU unit on Sunday reiterated their firm stand of not allowing him to set foot inside the university campus.
Prof Shukla’s leave ended on November 29 and as per his recent communication with the Ministry of Education, he is expected to resume office on Monday.
NEHUSU president Sandy Sohtun decried the VC for planning to resume office despite an ongoing protest by the students demanding his removal from the university.
“We will be shutting all entrance gates to prevent the VC from entering the university campus on Monday. Come what may, we are determined not to allow Prof Shukla to enter the university,” Sohtun said.
Pointing out that the Ministry of Education has granted the two-member committee a 15-day extension to complete its report on the allegations against the VC, Sohtun said they are waiting for the Ministry to initiate action against the VC.
“We had anticipated that the Ministry will temporarily remove the VC since there is a pending inquiry against him. We will be writing to the Ministry to take some action against the VC in view of the inquiry,” he added.
It may be recalled that Prof Shukla had sought deployment of central security forces at the campus of the oldest varsity in the Northeast, citing “insufficient” security cover provided by the Meghalaya government.
“In the light of prevailing conditions at NEHU campus, I kindly request adequate security support from the central government as the security provided by state government has been insufficient,” Shukla said in a letter to the Education Ministry.
“This deployment will not only ensure my safety but will also contribute to the overall security of the NEHU campus and its employees,” he added.
Prof Shukla had also accused the protesting students and faculty members of assaulting him and threatening him by attacking his official residence and forcing him to flee the campus.
“The atmosphere of fear and disruption is severely affecting the institution’s operations,” he said, adding that central security be arranged when he resumes office on December 2 (Monday).
Meanwhile, a senior police official informed that the VC has not officially informed the district administration that he is planning to resume office from Monday.
Despite attempts, the VC was not available to confirm if he will resume office on Monday as his mobile phone was switched off.
