By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 8: Despite repeated ultimatums from the Ministry of Education, the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) administration is under fire for allegedly stalling the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor, fuelling suspicions of an attempt to secure a back-door extension for the incumbent.
The Ministry’s latest push came on April 6, when it wrote to the NEHU Registrar seeking the immediate nomination of two Executive Council (EC) members to the selection committee. This follows an initial directive on February 18, which the university has yet to fulfill.
The delay has raised questions regarding administrative transparency, particularly following two recent EC meetings—one held in Delhi on February 23 and another virtually on March 30. Sources indicate that despite these sessions, the crucial issue of nominations was never brought to the table. Furthermore, the administration has reportedly failed to circulate the minutes of these meetings, leaving several EC members in the dark.
While the tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla, is set to expire on July 26, 2026, the Ministry is pushing for an early start to the selection process to avoid a leadership vacuum. However, the university’s silence and the unusual decision to hold a local institution’s meeting in Delhi have intensified friction with local stakeholders.
The university’s Registrar has so far declined to comment on the missed deadlines or the non-circulation of meeting minutes.
The North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) have now moved the state government, writing to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to demand a timely transition.
The student bodies are vehemently opposed to any extension for Prof Shukla, warning that further administrative delays could trigger student unrest and disrupt the university’s functioning.
In its communication, the Ministry also reminded the university of a March 2015 order which bars any Vice-Chancellor or EC member intending to apply for the post from participating in the selection process. Any violation of this clause would lead to immediate disqualification.
