Shillong— The Meghalaya High Court issued a stern warning to authorities on Wednesday, signaling its readiness to intervene in the escalating crisis at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), where students have staged a nine-day hunger strike, demanding administrative changes. The protest has led to a complete lockdown of the university, with calls for the removal of Vice Chancellor PS Shukla and other senior officials.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukherji and Justice B Bhattacharjee has set November 20 as the deadline for the Central government to address the issues raised by the students. During a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation, the court hinted at taking suo motu cognisance if authorities fail to resolve the situation.
“If the problems persist till the returnable date, we shall consider taking suo motu cognisance of the affairs and decide the matter accordingly,” the court cautioned.
The court acknowledged that the Meghalaya government has submitted recommendations to central authorities, highlighting what it described as “acute problems” impacting NEHU. Given the university’s central administration, the court extended time to allow the Centre to address the crisis.
Student organizations, including the North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union and Khasi Students’ Union, continue their indefinite hunger strike despite deteriorating conditions on campus. Their demands have sparked concerns over the disruption of university operations and the well-being of the protesting students.
In its directive, the court requested communication of its order to all involved parties, including the central and state governments, the Vice Chancellor, and various student unions. Attorney P Yobin had earlier urged the court to take action to restore normalcy at NEHU, emphasizing the pressing need for administrative solutions.