The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has formally lodged a complaint with Meghalaya’s Chief Secretary, DP Wahlang, accusing the National Law University (NLU) of Meghalaya of significant irregularities in its recruitment procedures. The union’s letter, delivered on February 25th, outlines a series of concerns regarding transparency and perceived favouritism within the university’s hiring practices.
A contentious meeting on February 14th between KSU delegates and Vice Chancellor Prof Indrajit Dube reportedly ended abruptly after the Vice Chancellor allegedly refused to engage in a meaningful dialogue. The KSU claims Prof Dube asserted he was “not answerable to the Union or any stakeholders of Meghalaya,” prompting the student delegation to walk out.
The KSU’s allegations center on the appointment of Gurpreet Singh as deputy registrar. The union contends that this position, initially advertised as a permanent role adhering to Meghalaya’s reservation policy, was subsequently converted to a contractual appointment without any public announcement. This alteration, the KSU alleges, was a deliberate attempt to bypass regulations that would have favored local candidates.
Further concerns were raised regarding the university’s faculty recruitment. The KSU alleges that the results of advertised positions for Associate and Assistant Professors were never publicly disclosed, despite appointments having been made. They specifically cited the appointment of Dr. Ankita Chakraborty, claiming she was hired despite not meeting the University Grants Commission (UGC) eligibility criteria. The KSU further alleges a conflict of interest, stating that Dr. Chakraborty’s PhD supervisor at IIT Kharagpur was the Vice Chancellor’s wife.
In their formal letter, the KSU asserted, “Most of the faculty members recruited in NLU Meghalaya are a product of nepotism and favouritism.” The union suggested that a significant number of appointees have connections to IIT Kharagpur or hold political affiliations with the government, further fueling their claims of biased hiring practices.