Correspondent
SHILLONG: Classes at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) will resume from December 3, following a decision by the North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU-NEHU Unit). However, the unions remain steadfast in their demand for the removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof. P.S. Shukla.
“Our main demand is for the removal of the incumbent VC. It is almost going to be one month that we have not had any physical classes in the university, and keeping in mind the future of the students, we do not want to jeopardize the future students only for the sake of this incompetence. VC, the NEHUSU and KSU have decided to resume the classes from December 3,” said NEHUSU General Secretary Toniho Kharsati to mediapersons.
The student bodies have also urged the acting vice-chancellor, N. Saha, to convene an emergency meeting to discuss NEHU’s academic calendar and ensure the smooth functioning of the institution.
Kharsati warned that while classes are resuming, any attempt by Prof. Shukla to return to the university will lead to renewed and intensified protests. “However, if we find any kind of communication from the VC side that he is trying to get into the university, the students’ union will rise and again take extreme measures of not allowing him to enter our university,” he stated.
The unions plan to escalate their agitation with peaceful sit-in demonstrations every day from 3 PM to 5 PM until their demand is met. “We want to show that until and unless the VC is being removed, we will not stop our agitation. However, we will keep this agitation as peaceful as possible,” Kharsati added.
Earlier, the student leader informed them that they were monitoring the situation following Prof. Shukla’s decision to resume office on Monday. Commenting on Prof. Shukla’s decision to extend his leave until December 13, Kharsati remarked, “We are firm with our stance that we will not allow the incumbent VC to step foot in this university again. Later, we learnt that he has extended his leave till December 13.”
Moreover, Prof. PS Shukla, Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), has extended his leave by another 15 days following the Education Ministry’s decision to grant a 15 days extension to the inquiry committee investigating allegations of mismanagement and administrative lapses at the university.
Explaining his decision, Prof. Shukla stated, “I was about to return today, but since the inquiry committee’s time is extended, so in principle, even I have extended my leave.”
He further added, “Morally, it would not be appropriate for me to return while the Education Ministry has granted a 15-day extension to the inquiry committee. Therefore, I have also decided to extend my leave until December 14.”
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