By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 19: Amid growing concerns over the administrative functioning of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prof Saroj Kanta Barik, the senior-most professor of the university, assumed charge as the Acting Vice-Chancellor on Friday.
Sources said Prof Barik, who is from the Botany Department, took over the responsibility in view of the urgency and seriousness of the prevailing situation at the university. The Ministry of Education has been accordingly informed for necessary directives.
The suo motu assumption of charge by Prof Barik followed a formal request from NEHU’s several statutory associations and unions – North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association, North-Eastern Hill University Non-Teaching Staff Association, North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union, Khasi Students’ Union – NEHU unit, and Meghalaya Tribal Teachers’ Association – NEHU, Shillong.
According to them, the decision was taken in accordance with Statute 2(A)5(i) of the NEHU Act, which allows the senior-most professor to perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor in the larger interest of the university until the incumbent Vice-Chancellor enters upon office as per Statute 2(A)(2).
The associations and the unions expressed deep concern over the current state of affairs at NEHU, pointing out that regular Vice-Chancellor Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla has remained absent from duty.
Prof Shukla’s current status is unclear. He has been absent from the NEHU headquarters in Shillong for the past 399 days.
They further noted with seriousness that since the afternoon of December 15, 2025, there has been no Acting Vice-Chancellor at the Shillong headquarters. Compounding the situation, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Shillong campus resigned from his post recently, leaving no scope for the formal handing over of charge.
They said the move, vis-à-vis suo motu assumption of charge of Acting Vice-Chancellor by Prof Barik, was necessitated to ensure continuity of administration and safeguard the academic and institutional interests of the university.
