Shillong: North-Eastern Hill University’s campus is embroiled in a governance crisis, as student organizations have issued a direct call to the institution’s non-teaching staff to disregard all directives from the Vice Chancellor and Registrar.
The North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) have jointly penned a formal letter, demanding that staff members refuse to acknowledge any “direction(s), order(s), meeting(s), decision(s) or instruction(s)” originating from Vice Chancellor Prof. PS Shukla and Registrar Col. Omkar Singh.
The core of the students’ grievance centers on the extended absence of both administrators from the university’s campus, coupled with their continued issuance of orders from remote locations.
The student bodies assert that this practice directly contravenes Section 6(1) of the North-Eastern Hill University Act of 1973, which stipulates the responsibilities and presence of university leadership.
The letter explicitly details Prof. PS Shukla’s prolonged leave, stating, “Prof. PS Shukla has been on continuous leave for 127 days and has failed to discharge his duties since November 15, 2024.” The students have vehemently rejected his attempts to resume official duties virtually from Delhi, labeling such actions as “arbitrary, unsubstantiated, and against established rules.” They argue that university regulations do not provide for the remote resumption of administrative duties, and that setting such a precedent would severely undermine the university’s established governance structure.
Similarly, the student groups have declared Col. Omkar Singh’s directives invalid, citing his failure to return to the university since the commencement of his leave. The letter highlights that his continued absence renders his orders without legitimate authority.
Furthermore, both NEHUSU and KSU have reiterated their stance that Prof. Shukla and Col. Singh are considered “persona non grata” within the university community, a status they claim is supported by various civil organizations and the local population. They have also issued a stern warning, stating that any faculty members who oppose this position will be perceived as acting against the interests of the student community.
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