Administrative crisis at NEHU: NESO demands “immediate intervention” as students’ indefinite hunger strike enters its 8th day

The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), a coalition of eight student bodies across the Northeastern states, has issued an urgent appeal for intervention to Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, in response to what it calls a “total breakdown of administration” at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU). The organization’s statement follows an indefinite hunger strike launched by the NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) NEHU Unit, who are demanding the immediate removal of the university’s Vice-Chancellor and other senior officials. Today, the indefinite hunger strike had entered its 8th day.

The NESO, comprising major student unions from all Northeastern states, including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) from Meghalaya, All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) from Assam, and Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) from Nagaland, has expressed grave concern over the current situation, which it claims has escalated due to the Vice-Chancellor’s alleged disregard for the university community’s concerns.

According to the NESO, the hunger strike, which began on November 5, is the culmination of “petitions after petitions” submitted to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla, by NEHUSU. However, as NESO states, “the VC is least concerned in addressing the issues plaguing the university.” The unions assert that Prof Shukla’s leadership has failed to address critical issues, resulting in widespread dissatisfaction and distrust among students, faculty, and staff.

In their statement, NESO detailed the primary demands of the student unions, which include the “immediate termination of the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Deputy Registrar, and all incompetent teaching and non-teaching staff.” The NEHU community, the statement added, has experienced declining academic standards, deteriorating infrastructure, and increasingly poor university ranking.

“Prior to the appointment of Prof PS Shukla as Vice-Chancellor, NEHU was consistently ranked within the top 60 universities nationally,” NESO noted. “However, under his leadership, the university’s ranking has plummeted to range between 100-150, a sharp decline in just three years.

The NESO further criticized the administrative approach to infrastructure, citing “acute shortages,” particularly in hostels and laboratories, as well as the lack of adequate staff for both academic and administrative functions. “Despite having sanctioned posts that remain vacant, the Vice-Chancellor has failed to take appropriate measures to fill these positions in a timely manner,” NESO reported.

Another area of contention is the university’s recruitment process, which NESO claimed has been inconsistent and opaque. “The Vice-Chancellor has frequently announced recruitment drives precisely twice since he joined the University to fill vacant posts, only to have them cancelled without proper justification,” NESO explained, suggesting that this inconsistency has “further damaged the university’s credibility.”

NESO also questioned the qualifications of senior administrative appointees, particularly Col Omkar Singh, the university’s Registrar, who has a military background without academic experience. NESO claimed his tenure as the Controller of Examination was marked by inefficiency, resulting in significant delays in exam schedules and results. The Deputy Registrar’s appointment also drew criticism, with NESO alleging that Amit Gupta was previously deemed ineligible for the role but was appointed in 2024 despite lacking adequate qualifications.

The NEHUSU and KSU NEHU Unit, supported by NESO, also alleged unethical hiring practices under Prof Shukla’s administration. For instance, “individuals who have already reached the age of superannuation” were appointed to posts such as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and Guest House Incharge, roles that NESO argues should have been open to newer, qualified candidates to foster “long-term planning and foresight.”

One of the most significant grievances expressed by NESO and the student bodies is what they describe as an “absentee leadership” style by Prof. Shukla. “His absence has resulted in significant disruptions to the day-to-day functioning of the university, particularly in decision-making processes,” read the statement, adding that his frequent unavailability has led to delays in critical administrative decisions.

The NESO, speaking as “a responsible students’ organization of the North East Region,” has urged swift action from the authorities to resolve the current crisis, stating that “urgent action is needed to restore the university’s reputation and ensure its future growth.”

In a direct appeal to Union Minister, NESO stated, “We believe that such leadership can only be ensured through significant administrative change.” The organization contends that without this intervention, the quality of education and student welfare in NEHU will continue to suffer.

MT