Shillong, Nov 19: NEHU’s VC in-charge, Prof. Nirmalendu Saha, has indicated that the semester-end exam of the odd semesters may be postponed to next year due to the ongoing indefinite hunger strike by the students.
“We have already lost 2 weeks (of classes). Under this present situation (the hunger strike), it will be very difficult to conduct the exam in December. So, we may have to postpone it to next February. So, only after reopening, after the winter vacation, we may hold the exam,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
For the exact time when the exams will be conducted, he informed that the matter would be taken up in an emergent Academic Council meeting, which would be held within 2-3 days, where the academic calendar would need to be rescheduled as per the new exam dates.
Otherwise, the exams were supposed to start in the first week of December
But the students under the banner of NEHU Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and backed by KSU-NEHU unit have been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 15 days (as of Tuesday), demanding removal of the incumbent VC of the university, Prof. VC Shukla.
Some services resume
Meanwhile, Prof. Saha informed that NEHU Non-teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) have re-opened some of the essential services like finance, academic and budget and whatever sections required for the welfare of the students and emergency services.
On the other hand, he said the students are adamant in their demand for removal of Prof Shukla as VC of NEHU and are not allowing the classes to resume.
However, NEHUSU has allowed opening of HoDs and Deans’ chambers from Tuesday onwards to allow students to complete certificate and scholarships works. “So slowly, they are relaxing, hopefully and finally they will suspend this hunger strike for some time,” Prof. Saha believed.
“I have requested them to call off the strike or suspend it for some time, (till the time) the inquiry report is prepared and submitted,” he added.
