By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The three associations of students (NEHUSU), non-teaching employees (NEHUNSA) and teachers (NEHUTA) have come together to form a Joint Consultative Forum on Wednesday.
The ad-hoc body of the forum includes Prof XP Mao as Chairman and Fedrick Kharbuli (president, non-teaching) and Peacestar L Nonglait (president, Students Union of NEHU) as its two vice-chairman.
The forum is supposed to take up matters of common interest and the larger academic, intellectual and educational concerns of the University in line with UGC regulations, 2010.
The forum shall raise the issues pertaining to higher education of NEHU and the Northeastern region with the Centre and persuade various authorities of the North Eastern Hill University, Shillong in adopting correct perspective on these issues.
In its first resolutions, the JCF “expresses its serious concern over the appointment of unconcerned self-gratifying VCs since 1999.
It urged upon all concerned to ensure appointment of VCs with academic and intellectual commitment who can selflessly devote to the fulfilment of the objectives of NEHU as enshrined in NEHU Act, 1973.”
The JCF also expressed its concern over unending chain of corruption, commercialization of the university and its services and premises, destruction of fragile ecosystem of the campuses, poor maintenance of hostel and all other facilities, denial of elected representation in statutory bodies of the university and the overall degradation of its intellectual environment.
The JCF has also demanded a judicial probe into the rampant violation of its act, statute and ordinances leading to the malfunctioning of the university as a system since 1999, after Prof B Pakem expired.
The JCF further demanded the appointment of a new VC in a completely transparent manner so that a dedicated, selfless and person of high moral and academic integrity could be selected by the search committee.
As stakeholders of the University, the JCF has proposed names of persons with national and international standing who are known for their commitment and integrity to be the members of search committee and urged upon the Executive Council of the University to consider and incorporate these persons in the search committee.
The JCF proposed the names of noted columnist Patricia Mukhim, former NEC secretary HAD Sawian, eminent scholar Prof Hiren Gohain and former Pondicherry University vice chancellor Prof JAK Tareen.