Sun Dec 01 23:22:55 UTC 2024: ## NEHU Teachers’ Union Accuses Vice Chancellor of Mismanagement and Defamation
**Shillong, Nov 29:** The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) has launched a scathing attack on Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, demanding he substantiate allegations against the association that have, they claim, damaged its reputation. In a statement submitted to the Indian Ministry of Higher Education, NEHUTA president Lakhon Kma accused Shukla of deflecting blame for the university’s current crisis onto NEHUTA, the students’ union, local political groups, and the state police, rather than accepting responsibility himself.
Kma alleges that Shukla’s statements were made with “malafide intention” to defame NEHUTA and other stakeholders. He questioned Shukla’s appointment as Vice Chancellor, claiming he was a “political appointee” selected over more qualified candidates. Kma further criticized Shukla’s alleged undermining of faculty contributions, citing a discrepancy between claiming credit for improved QS rankings while simultaneously downplaying faculty research. He accused Shukla of failing to invest in academics and research during his three-year tenure.
The statement also attributed NEHU’s declining NIRF ranking to Shukla’s mismanagement. Specific criticisms include rewarding an underperforming Dean with a second term and a general lack of investment in academics and infrastructure. NEHUTA also pointed to the Vice Chancellor’s handling of student protests, including a 16-day hunger strike demanding the removal of unqualified officials, as further evidence of mismanagement. Kma stated that the Vice Chancellor’s actions directly contributed to the students’ health problems.
The union also highlighted irregularities in Shukla’s communication, noting a letter to the Ministry of Higher Education bore a copied signature, rather than an original. Kma characterized Shukla’s actions as a deliberate attempt to further create division within the university. Finally, Kma condemned Shukla’s statement that the student hunger strike was a “drama,” arguing that it was a response to persistent failures by the administration to address critical issues within the university. He contrasted Shukla’s tenure with that of previous VCs, whom he credited with building the university’s strong reputation. The statement concluded by expressing a lack of confidence in Shukla’s ability to lead the university, particularly given an ongoing inquiry into his conduct.
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