By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 19: North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla has warned Vice Chancellor in-charge Prof. Sherwin Sungoh against convening the Academic Council meeting on May 21, and warned of action if the meeting is conducted.
Prof. Shukla criticized Prof. Sungoh’s decision, stating that it raises serious concerns about legality and accountability. He warned that such unauthorised actions could further destabilize the university’s administration and endanger the academic future of thousands of students and the integrity of its affiliated institutions.
He claimed that Prof. Sungoh declared herself as Vice Chancellor in-charge under pressure from the NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), despite having no legal authority to do so under the NEHU Act and Statutes.
“Any decisions taken at the Academic Council meeting could be rendered invalid, casting doubts over the legality of students’ degrees,” the VC said.
Prof. Shukla also pointed out that he had formally directed the Joint Registrar to issue a notice reconvening the Academic Council meeting, but when the instruction was not carried out, the university’s Registrar issued a notice for the meeting to be held on May 23 in line with established procedures.
The incident has sparked concern across the academic community, with several senior faculty members and legal experts denouncing the May 21 meeting as illegal.
Prof. Shukla warned that decisions from such a meeting could be legally challenged and might not be recognized. The consequences could be severe, especially for students awaiting exam results and degrees, he said.
The crisis could spill over to NEHU’s affiliated colleges in Meghalaya and neighbouring states, as they may be unable to validate student results or implement academic changes.
Prof. Shukla further warned that any delay or dispute over degrees would force colleges to answer to students, parents, and regulatory bodies, even though they are not responsible for internal university decisions.