By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 30: The North Eastern Hill University Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) has urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to intervene and ensure that a regular Executive Council meeting of the university is convened.
The association has also reached out to key political leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Shillong MP Ricky AJ Syngkon, and Tura MP Saleng A. Sangma, seeking their attention and intervention.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NEHUNSA general secretary Danny MJ Synnah expressed deep concern over the prolonged delay in holding the meeting, pointing out that several important academic and administrative matters remain pending. Among them, the recruitment of non-teaching staff is considered particularly urgent.
Synnah stressed that the university cannot move forward until decisions are formally endorsed by the Executive Council, which serves as NEHU’s highest governing and executive body.
He also criticized Vice Chancellor Prof PS Shukla, alleging that he has failed in his responsibilities and has remained absent from the NEHU permanent campus for nearly a year.
“In the given circumstances, as per NEHU Statutes 2(A)(5)(i), if the Vice-Chancellor is unable to perform his duties owing to absence, illness, or any other cause, the senior-most Pro Vice-Chancellor is empowered to chair all statutory meetings, including the Executive Council,” Synnah noted.
He further referred to a Ministry of Education letter (F.No.20-13/2024-CIJ.IV dated 20.08.2024),
which directs that all official meetings—including those of the Executive Council, Finance Committee, and other statutory bodies—must be conducted within the university campus. Based on these provisions, NEHUNSA argued that Prof Shukla “cannot and should not” chair any statutory meetings.
The association has therefore formally requested that the senior-most Pro Vice-Chancellor be entrusted with the responsibility of chairing the much-awaited Executive Council meeting.
