Tue Nov 26 07:51:36 UTC 2024: ## NEHU Vice-Chancellor Declared Persona Non Grata Amidst Student and Teacher Protests

**GUWAHATI, November 26, 2024** – The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) is embroiled in a major crisis, with students and teachers declaring Vice-Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla persona non grata and demanding his removal. This follows weeks of protests over alleged irregularities, including unqualified appointments and neglect of infrastructure.

The unrest began in early November with non-cooperation from faculty and staff, escalating to an indefinite student hunger strike. While the hunger strike ended on November 21st, the protests continue with a sit-in outside the administrative building. The local dorbar, a traditional administrative body, has also banned the Vice-Chancellor from the campus.

A two-member committee from the Union Ministry of Education, comprising former UGC chairperson D.P. Singh and former Assam University Vice-Chancellor Dilip Chandra Nath, met with protesting unions on Monday. While the students expressed hope for a strong recommendation against the Vice-Chancellor, they affirmed their resolve to keep him off campus regardless of the committee’s findings. Their concerns center on alleged irregularities in appointments, interference in departmental affairs, and a lack of support for research collaborations.

The All India Save Education Council (AISEC) has written to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, expressing deep concern over the situation. AISEC alleges that the crisis stems from the appointment of unqualified Vice-Chancellors who lack understanding of the region’s culture and sensitivities, and who prioritize the implementation of policies like NEP 2020 over the needs of the university. The council further accuses the Vice-Chancellor of favoring appointments with an RSS background, sparking resentment among local communities. AISEC urges the Centre to prioritize appointing qualified and honest academics and providing adequate funding to improve higher education in the Northeast.

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