By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 27: North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) president Prof Lakhon Kma on Wednesday ruled himself out of the race for the post of Vice Chancellor of the institute, saying that he is not eligible under the existing norms prescribed for appointment to the top post.
Speaking to reporters, Prof Kma said there should be no ambiguity regarding his position and clarified that he does not meet the minimum eligibility criteria required for appointment as Vice Chancellor.
“I have nothing to hide. As per the rules, I am not eligible to become Vice Chancellor since the condition clearly requires a candidate to have completed ten years as a professor,” he said.
“I was appointed as a professor in 2017 and I will become eligible only after completing ten years. For now, my name can be removed from the list of aspirants for the VC post. People need clarity on this,” he said.
Prof Kma said he, as the president of NEHUTA, would not support any move that violates established norms. “As NEHUTA president, I will not like to break the law. I am in no rush, as I still have many years left in the university and I am enjoying my work as a teacher,” he said.
He further stated that the teachers’ body, along with students and non-teaching staff, would work collectively to ensure that the university gets a capable and competent Vice Chancellor.
Recently, the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education issued an advertisement inviting applications for appointment to the post of Vice Chancellor of NEHU.
The tenure of incumbent Vice Chancellor Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla will end on July 26.
According to the advertisement, the Vice Chancellor, being both the academic and administrative head of the university, is expected to be a person of the highest competence, integrity, moral standing, and institutional commitment. The eligibility criteria specify that candidates must be distinguished academicians with a minimum of ten years’ experience as a professor in a university or ten years’ experience in a research or academic institute of repute, with demonstrated academic leadership.
