SHILLONG, Oct 14: The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) on Tuesday announced that it will send a delegation to New Delhi to expose “acts of corruption,” allegedly committed by Vice Chancellor Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla in collaboration with the Manipur Tribal Development Corporation (MTDC), Imphal over project works at the university’s Tura campus.
The decision was taken during a protest demonstration in front of the Vice Chancellor’s office, staged as part of NEHUTA’s ongoing agitation against the NEHU administration.
NEHUTA president Lakhon Kma told reporters the delegation will meet officials of the Ministry of Education and furnish evidence of alleged corruption, financial irregularities, and administrative interference by Prof Shukla.
“We have taken the decision to go to Delhi, and within a week or ten days, we will meet ministry officials to explain how the arrangement made for normalcy in NEHU has been completely defeated because of Prof Shukla’s interference,” Kma stated.
He alleged that Prof Shukla approved project funds to MTDC without completion of work, claiming that Rs 82 lakh was released within 15 days of issuing the work order although the project remained incomplete.
“After taking the money, MTDC sought more time for completion of the work. This clearly indicates collusion and an act of commission and omission between Prof Shukla and MTDC,” NEHUTA alleged.
The teachers’ body said although the Vice Chancellor has remained absent from office for 333 days, yet he continues to draw a full salary.
“He has been away for almost a year, yet shamelessly drawing salary while his duties are being carried out by the Pro-Vice Chancellors of Shillong and Tura,” the association said, terming it “wastage of public money.”
Kma accused the Ministry of Education of turning a blind eye to the matter, saying that such a situation is “unheard of anywhere in the country.”
The NEHUTA expressed anger that despite assurances made by the Ministry in May that Prof Shukla would no longer preside over NEHU’s Executive Council (EC) meetings, he continued to “interfere in the university’s affairs.”
“The Ministry had told us that whenever an EC or Academic Council meeting is held, the VC will be on leave. But he continues to defy that understanding, which is an act of betrayal,” the NEHUTA president said.
The teachers reiterated their opposition to Prof Shukla chairing the upcoming EC meeting, alleging that he intends to use it to “legitimise” the project allocations made to MTDC.
“All major construction works in NEHU have been handled by our Campus Development Department. There was no reason to bypass it and outsource projects to MTDC, except for vested interests,” Kma alleged.
He said the protest was also aimed at drawing attention to the broader grievances of the teaching community, such as the delay in faculty members’ promotions, non-implementation of the Career Advancement Scheme, arbitrary reappointment of a dean, violation of financial rules, pending medical reimbursements, and poor maintenance of the quarters of faculty members.
The protest followed resolutions adopted by NEHUTA during its meetings on September 25 and October 8, reflecting the growing discontent among faculty members over “administrative collapse and ethical decay” under Prof Shukla’s leadership.
The NEHUTA affirmed that it will continue its agitation until the Ministry of Education intervenes and restores transparency and accountability in the NEHU’s functioning.
