The administrative crisis at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, intensified as three major bodies—the Teachers' Association, Non-Teaching Staff Association, and Students’ Union—have jointly called for a boycott of the Executive Council (EC) meeting scheduled for 30 May in New Delhi.
In a strongly-worded joint appeal, the North-Eastern Hill University Teachers' Association (NEHUTA), the North-Eastern Hill University Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA), and the North-Eastern Hill University Students' Union (NEHUSU) urged Executive Council members to abstain from attending the meeting, describing it as “illegitimate”.
The controversy revolves around Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, who has reportedly remained absent from NEHU’s Shillong headquarters for over 193 days. According to the associations, Prof. Shukla went on earned leave on 15 November 2024 following advice from the Union Ministry of Education and extended it till 2 March 2025. However, he has not physically resumed duties since.
“This amounts to continuous absence from duty in the Headquarters at NEHU, Shillong, for more than 193 days or more than 6 months at a stretch,” the associations wrote in a letter to EC members.
The crisis has been further exacerbated by Prof. Shukla’s public remarks, which the associations allege “undermine the discussions and agreements that the stakeholders of NEHU had with the members of the visiting team of the Union Ministry of Education on May 22 in NEHU, Shillong which could have resulted in normalising the situation in NEHU.”
Also read: NEHU's Central probe ends; report on irregularities due
Moreover, they claimed Prof. Shukla sought to “disrespect more than 135 members of the Academic Council who attended the meeting held on May 21 which was chaired by Prof. SM Sungoh (Acting Vice Chancellor) as per NEHU statute.”
The associations have strongly questioned the legitimacy of the upcoming meeting in New Delhi, contending that the Vice Chancellor, who convened it, remains technically on leave. “The EC meeting convened in Delhi by him is, therefore, illegitimate,” they stated.
Amid rising tensions, the Ministry of Education has yet to publicly release the findings of the Inquiry Committee Report into Prof. Shukla’s conduct, adding to the prevailing uncertainty.
The joint appeal was signed by Prof. Lakhon Kma (President, NEHUTA), Dr Wandondor R Synrem (President, NEHUNSA), Sandy Sohtun (President, NEHUSU), and Dr Marbhador M Khymdeit (General Secretary, NEHUTA). The signatories warned EC members against attending the Delhi meeting.
“Any member who chooses to proceed against this appeal and disregards the position taken by the Associations/Unions will be regarded as acting in opposition to the interests of the students, teachers, non-teaching staff and their Associations/Unions and the University as a whole,” the appeal concluded.
Follow us
