Shillong, Feb 26: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Tuesday petitioned to the chief secretary DP Wahlang against the alleged irregularities in appointments and functioning of the National Law University (NLU), Meghalaya.

In a letter to Wahlang, the KSU accused the University of failing to follow due process of law while making appointments.

“Such discrepancies and irregularities in appointments shows lack of transparency and enunciates nepotism and favouritism which will be detrimental to the growth of the University,” it said.

It also alleged that the NLU vice chancellor Prof Indrajit Dube is not open for any discussion or clarification when the union had met him on February 14.

“His approach towards the meeting was very discourteous and insolent and he also replied that he is not answerable to the Union or any stakeholders of Meghalaya which prompted the Union to leave the meeting abruptly.”

Highlighting certain irregularities, the KSU has termed the appointment of a deputy registrar as illegal.

The said post was advertised on the 14th of April, 2023 and based on which 5 (five) candidates were shortlisted on the 30th of August, 2024 for personal interview.

“Although, the result of the personal interview was never out or made public, appointment was illegally rendered to one of the shortlisted candidates namely Gurpreet Singh without reason or rhyme. The other astounding fact is that the said post of deputy registrar was advertised as a ‘permanent post’ and thus Meghalaya State Reservation Policy as per the Corrigendum dated 24th April, 2023 is to be made mandatory for any permanent post but neglecting all the due procedures, this post was made as a ‘tenure post’ (contractual) and appointment was rendered to Gurpreet Singh deviating from the advertisement. This very fact verifies the fact that nepotism and favouritism was involved in appointment of the Deputy Registrar and it can also be said again that the Vice Chancellor is anti-tribal and not willing to go as per advertisement because if he does so, maybe a Khasi could have been employed,” the letter stated.

“There is also no transparency in the appointment of faculty members. The post of Associate Professor and Assistant Professor was advertised in the year 2022-23, the result of these posts was never out or made public but appointments were made either permanent or tenure without following due procedures and neglecting the State Reservation Policy. The selection process for Assistant and Associate Professor is very much tainted. Most of the faculty members which are recruited in NLU Meghalaya are a product of nepotism and favouritism appointed by Prof. Indrajit Dube directly or indirectly. Most of these Assistant & Associate Professors lack or does not have the required qualifications for such post as mandated by the University Grant Commission (UGC) but they are appointed even though there are many qualified and more experience candidates who have applied,” it said while adding “To substantiate it claims of nepotism in appointment in NLU Meghalaya, the Union will like to cite an example of Dr. Ankita Chakraborty who has been appointed as Assistant Professor despite not having the required eligibility criteria as per UGC nor sufficient experience and didn’t even clear her PhD while joining. After significant research, the Union found out that Dr. Ankita Chakraborty was a research student (PhD scholar) from Rajiv Gandhi School of IP Law, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur under the supervision or having Smti. Dipa Dube as a Supervisor who is the wife of Prof. Indrajit Dube. Similarly, some other Assistant and Associate Professors who are appointed are directly and indirectly connected to IIT Kharagpur or belongs from a particular region and some other have political or influential ties to the Government. Thus, with no result for such post being advertised and appointment being rendered to anyone with backup clearly shows the nepotism in NLU Meghalaya.”

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