SHILLONG, Oct 20: The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) is now empowered to address cases involving human rights violations within central institutes located in the state. This follows the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) referring a complaint regarding the delay in result declaration by North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) to the MHRC.
The NHRC, in its order, stated that the grievances in the complaint relate to matters under the state’s jurisdiction and should therefore be transferred to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) as per Section 13(6) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, for resolution in accordance with the Act’s provisions.
With this order, individuals can now file complaints with the MHRC concerning instances of medical negligence at NEIGRIHMS or human rights violations in any of the central institutes within the state.
The MHRC has sought a report from NEHU’s registrar following a complaint filed by Brijendra Rajkhowa regarding the delay in the announcement of his academic results.
Rajkhowa, a student of the School of Technology at NEHU, Shillong (Roll No. B.T/ECE-12/09, Reg. No. 12491 of 2012-13), had approached the MHRC seeking intervention to expedite the declaration of his B.Tech results. He belongs to the Department of Electronic and Communication Engineering, 2012 batch, and had appeared for his final exams in 2018, having completed 54 papers.
However, he had one remaining back paper from his second semester in Engineering Chemistry (CH-203) and had requested the then Vice-Chancellor to allow him to clear the paper via a mid-term examination. Following advice from the Dean and Head of the Department, he and others were permitted to take the back paper internally, with the assurance that the results would be declared accordingly.
Rajkhowa appeared for the back paper in a mid-term exam on May 1, 2019, after paying the required fees. Although he claims to have cleared the paper as informed by the department, the result has yet to be officially declared. Despite multiple follow-ups with the Controller of Examinations (now Officer on Special Duty), no action has been taken by NEHU to release his results.
