Shillong: Three major associations at North-Eastern Hill University have called for a boycott of the Executive Council meeting scheduled for May 30 in New Delhi, escalating the ongoing administrative crisis at the institution.
The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), North-Eastern Hill University Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA), and North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) have issued a joint appeal urging executive council members to stay away from the meeting, which they claim is “illegitimate”.
The controversy centres around Vice Chancellor Prof Shukla, who has been absent from the university’s Shillong headquarters for over 193 days. He went on earned leave from November 15 last year and has not physically returned to campus since. The associations argue that this amounts to continuous absence from duty and question the legitimacy of the Delhi meeting convened by him.
The situation has been further complicated by Prof Shukla’s public statements, which the associations claim undermine discussions and agreements between stakeholders and the visiting team of the Union Ministry of Education. Additionally, the associations accuse Prof Shukla of attempting to disrespect members of the Academic Council.
The three bodies have raised serious questions about the legitimacy of the Delhi meeting, arguing that since Prof Shukla remains on leave and absent from duties, the meeting is illegitimate. The Ministry of Education’s failure to make public the Inquiry Committee Report on Prof Shukla’s conduct has added to the uncertainty.
The associations have issued a stern warning to executive council members, stating that any member who chooses to proceed against their appeal will be regarded as acting in opposition to the interests of the students, teachers, non-teaching staff, and the university as a whole. The joint appeal was signed by the presidents and general secretary of the three associations.
Read More: Manipur Security Forces Achieve Significant Breakthrough in Anti-Insurgency Operations