By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 29: The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) is facing a deepening governance crisis, with the NEHU Teachers’ Association alleging administrative paralysis, lack of transparency, and the prolonged absence of Vice-Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla from the headquarters.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, NEHUTA president Lakhon Kma said the Vice-Chancellor’s absence from the campus for over 540 days has “seriously disrupted the day-to-day functioning” of the university.
“It has created a complete standstill in NEHU. While the VC is not physically present on campus, he continues to interfere in the day-to-day functioning of the university, and that has led to a situation of policy paralysis,” he said.
Kma flagged the delay in confirmation of teachers appointed in 2023 as one of the most pressing issues.
According to him, university rules clearly mandate that faculty members be confirmed upon completion of their probation period, subject to formal approval by the Executive Council (EC).
However, despite two EC meetings—one held in Delhi on February 23 and another virtually on March 30—no confirmation orders have been issued.
“According to the rules, once the probation period is completed, confirmation should follow by default. This process has not been completed even after two EC meetings. The bigger concern is that the minutes of these meetings have not been circulated, so no one knows what decisions were taken,” Kma said.
He maintained that, barring a few cases that are sub judice, all eligible teachers should have been confirmed by now, and termed the delay “unjustified and deeply concerning.” He added that newly recruited faculty members are being forced to work under uncertainty.
Beyond faculty-related concerns, Kma said the university is witnessing “almost complete administrative paralysis,” with no clarity on who is making decisions in the VC’s absence.
“According to the statutory provisions, the Pro VCs are supposed to discharge the duties of the VC in his absence. But even that mechanism is not functioning effectively. We do not know who is calling the shots or how decisions are being made,” he said.
Kma alleged that the VC continues to draw a full salary despite being away from the campus. “The Ministry of Education is aware of the situation, and this has created a vacuum in leadership, affecting governance, planning, and institutional growth,” he said.
He pointed out that while academic activities such as classes, admissions, examinations, and declaration of results are continuing, this is largely due to the resilience of departments and faculty members, rather than administrative support.
“These activities continue because NEHU is an old institution with established systems built over more than 50 years. It is the departments and teachers who are sustaining the academic functioning, not the administration,” he said.
On the financial front, Kma revealed that NEHU received only about half of its required recurring funds last year, resulting in mounting financial pressure.
He said delays in clearing medical reimbursements, departmental expenses, and other bills have become routine, with uncertainty looming over allocations for the current financial year.
“He continues to represent NEHU in meetings outside the campus, but has done nothing to address the financial crisis of the university. This is a matter of serious concern,” he added.
Kma also raised serious questions over the functioning of the EC, stating that despite meetings being held, the absence of circulated minutes has left stakeholders in the dark.
“In any statutory body, minutes must be circulated to all members, whether they attended the meeting or not. But here, no one has any idea what has transpired. This lack of transparency is further aggravating the crisis,” he said.
He further expressed concern over the delay in initiating the process for the appointment of the next VC. Referring to a communication from the Ministry of Education on February 18, Kma said the university is required to recommend two names for the constitution of a search committee.
“That process should have been completed by now, but there is no clarity. There is a genuine apprehension that the delay may be deliberate, possibly to seek an extension of the current VC’s tenure. We are completely opposed to any such move,” he asserted.
Reflecting on the university’s declining academic standing, Kma noted that NEHU has slipped from being among the top 15 institutions in the National Institutional Ranking Framework to beyond 200, attributing the fall to “a decade of poor leadership.”
“We have seen a steady decline over the past 10 to 12 years. Particularly in the last few years, the situation has worsened significantly. Leadership has been the key issue,” he said.
Kma emphasised that the university urgently requires a VC who is academically sound, administratively experienced, and fully committed to the institution.
“We need a VC who is present on campus, who understands the system, and who can take all stakeholders along. NEHU has the potential to rise again, but only if we get the right leadership,” he said.
Recalling the contributions of past VCs, including Mrinal Miri, Pramod Tandon, and A.N. Rai, Kma said their leadership had once placed NEHU among the country’s top institutions.
“We did not fully value the good leadership we had in the past. Today, we are facing the consequences. But we hope that this time, a capable and committed VC will be appointed to restore the university’s academic and administrative strength,” he added.
The current VC’s tenure is set to conclude on July 25, with the teaching community expressing hope for a leadership change that could steer the university out of its prolonged crisis.
