Shillong, Nov 25: It’s a firm “no” to return of NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Prabha S. Shukla, the students told the Ministry of Education’s two-member probe committee.
Under the banners of the North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU-NEHU Unit), and North Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), stakeholders submitted detailed documents highlighting allegations of administrative failures and irregularities under the VC’s leadership.
A resolute stand was taken by the students and teachers of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) as they met the Ministry of Education’s two-member probe committee, delivering a firm message that the return of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Prabha S. Shukla to the university is “untenable and unacceptable” regardless of the inquiry’s outcome.
NEHUSU president Sandy Sohtun stated, “We showcased evidence of the VC’s mismanagement over the past three years and submitted memorandums dating back to 2022. The message is clear: we will not allow him to return to this university, no matter the committee’s findings.”
Prof. Lakhon Kma, president of NEHUTA, echoed the sentiment. “We have laid bare the VC’s wrongdoings—from biased recruitment practices to denying rightful promotions. He has driven NEHU into a deep gorge, and his return is unanimously opposed by NEHUTA, NEHUNSA, NEHUSU, and even the Mawlai Town Dorbar, which has declared her persona non grata,” he said.
The students, who had temporarily suspended an indefinite hunger strike due to health concerns, vowed to continue agitating, with no classes resuming for now. Sohtun noted that further actions would be decided in consultation with student bodies.
Prof. Kma concluded by emphasizing the severity of the situation: “The university’s recovery from her tenure will take years, but we are clear—his presence at NEHU is non-negotiable. This is a fight for the institution’s integrity and the future of Meghalaya.”
The probe committee is expected to submit its report soon, but the united front displayed by NEHU’s stakeholders leaves little room for doubt about their stance.
, Khasi Students' Union (KSU-NEHU Unit), and North Eastern Hill University Teachers' Association (NEHUTA), stakeholders submitted detailed documents highlighting allegations of administrative failures and irregularities under the VC’s leadership.){kind=link}