Shillong, Nov 11: Agitating students of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on Monday petitioned to the President of India Droupadi Murmu seeking the immediate removal of the incumbent Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof PS Shukla for allegedly failing to address the ongoing crisis in the university.

The complaint letter was jointly submitted by the North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU – NEHU Unit), which are spearheading the ongoing hunger strike protest for the past seven days.

The letter stated that the VC was allegedly absent from his duties amidst the ongoing indefinite hunger strike protest at the university.

“It has been seven days (146 hours) since the commencement of the hunger strike, and despite this prolonged period of student protest, the VC has failed to fulfil his responsibilities. The absence of the VC, without any prior notice or information, is a serious concern and reflects poorly on his leadership and his ability to address the ongoing crisis,” the student bodies said while adding “Instead of actively engaging in resolving the issues related to the hunger strike, the VC’s failure to respond or even be present on campus highlights his inability to effectively manage the situation.”

“In light of these serious issues, the students’ community no longer feel that the VC is fit to lead the university. His incompetence, lack of responsiveness, and apparent disregard for the welfare of the students have severely impacted the credibility of the institution. The Unions therefore, request that the VC be removed from his position immediately, as he has demonstrated an inability to carry out the responsibilities required of the office,” they demanded.

“We respectfully urge your office to take swift and appropriate action to address these concerns and ensure that the university functions smoothly in the best interest of its students,” the letter added.

Further, the student bodies informed that the ongoing hunger strike has already begun to take a severe toll on the health of the protesting students.

“Several of them have been hospitalized due to deteriorating health conditions, including seizures and dangerously low levels of blood pressure and blood sugar. The absence of the VC, coupled with the lack of communication about when he will return, has left the protesting students’ lives in jeopardy. His failure to address their concerns or even provide a timely response raises questions about his competence and responsibility as the VC,” they said.

Additionally, the agitating student bodies said that with the undergraduate examinations on the horizon, the absence of the VC has created a leadership vacuum in the administration. No interim measures have been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the exams, which affects not only the students of the university but also those studying in the affiliated colleges. This failure to provide leadership at a critical juncture is putting academic futures of many students in jeopardy.

“This is not the first instance of such behaviour. The VC has a history of being absent or unresponsive during times of crisis, further undermining the trust and confidence that the student community had in his leadership. His repeated failure to carry out his duties in times or urgency has led to widespread frustration among the students,” they stated.

Meanwhile, vice president of the KSU – NEHU Unit Cecilia Pyngrope was rushed to the hospital after her health deteriorated as the hunger strike protest entered its seventh day.

Altogether 9 students have been hospitalized so far, of which four have been discharged who have joined back the hunger protest.

On Sunday, an FIR was filed by the NEHU authority against the incident of vandalization of the official residence and vehicle of the NEHU VC in the wee hours of Sunday morning. Additional police force has been deployed in the university’s campus.

Also Read: NEHUNSA extends support to students’ indefinite hunger strike, calls for immediate resignation of VC

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