NEHU teachers protest against acting VC

SHILLONG, AUG 12: North Eastern Hills University (NEHU)teachers are up in arms against what they call ‘illegal appointment’ of former   vice chancellor Prof AN Rai as VC in-charge  by the acting VC Prof P Shukla and took out a protest march to oppose the alleged illegal appointment.

The teachers also demanded stepping down of Prof Shukla for violating the rules and procedures by illegal appointing Prof Rai as the VC in-charge in his absence. According to them, as per rule and procedure, the senior most professor of the university should be appointed as the VC in-charge in the absence of incumbent VC.

Over thirty teachers under the banner of the North Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) staged a protest march towards the office of the VC at the administrative building in the campus.

“It is an established procedure that in the absence of VC and pro-VC, a senior most professor should be in-charge of the university, which however violated by Prof Shukla,” NEHUTA president Prof V Rauta Rengsi told newsmen after submitting a memorandum to the acting VC, who is presently out of station.

A copy of the memorandum was also forwarded to the President of India, who is the Visitor of the University and Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) for immediate action on the anomalies.

He said,   the teachers oppose the action by the acting VC for issuing a letter appointing Prof AN. Rai as the VC in-charge, whose legal stand in the university is under question. According to Prof Rengsi, the NEHU EC in its 38th emergent meeting held on May 21 had clearly stated that the Executive Council is yet to take any decision with regards to the substantive post held and pay fixation of Prof Rai.

Alleging Prof Shukla of following in the footsteps of the former VC, who violated all norms and rules of conduct for personal interest, NEHUTA said, “We cannot accept any violations of statutes, ordinances and established codes of conduct and procedures by any officer – be it you or the Acting Registrar.”

The teachers termed the decision by Shukla as illegal and said, “We demand that you resign as the Vice-Chancellor immediately and hand over the charge to the senior most Professor in the university.” –By Our Reporter