NEHU Crisis: Education Ministry forms inquiry committee to probe alleged mismanagement, irregular appointments

Shillong, Nov 14: In a major development to break the ongoing stalemate between North Eastern Hill University’s (NEHU) top administration and its students and teachers, the Ministry of Education on Thursday formed an inquiry committee to probe into the various allegations against the administrative mismanagement of the university.

The order of the Ministry, signed by D.K. Himanshu, Under Secretary to the Government of India, comes 10 days after the students under the banner of North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and backed by the Khasi Students Union (KSU – NEHU Unit) began their indefinite hunger strike against the ‘administrative mismanagement’ and ‘incompetency’ of the Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Deputy Registrar that has severely affected the academic and administrative functioning of the university. The students have been demanding the resignation of the VC and termination of services of the Registrar and Deputy Registrar.

In response to the serious concerns raised by the students, student associations, and reports in media reports, the Ministry of Education has constituted a two-member committee to conduct a thorough inquiry into the allegations.

The committee will probe the allegations of irregular appointments including the appointments of the Registrar and the Deputy Registrar, which are claimed to have contributed to the university’s inefficiency.

It will also probe university’s declining rankings, which was visible in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), allegedly due to administrative negligence.

It will also probe reports of poor maintenance and neglect of basic amenities and infrastructure, adversely affecting the academic environment and student welfare; and non-responsiveness and ignorance of the Vice Chancellor to multiple complaints and memoranda from student bodies, including demands for essential reforms.

The Ministry has appointed Prof. D.P. Singh, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), as Chairman of the committee, with Prof. Dilip Chandra Nath, former Vice-Chancellor of Assam University, as the second member.

The committee has been tasked with investigating each of the concerns and providing a report within 15 days, including recommendations for corrective actions.

The Ministry has asked NEHU’s administration to provide full cooperation to the committee, including any necessary documentation and assistance required for the inquiry.

Also Read: NEHU’s non-teaching staff launch non-cooperation movement against VC

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