Meghalaya: NEHU Teachers’ Association Issues Ultimatum to VC Over NEP Implementation

SHILLONG: The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) has issued a stern ultimatum to Vice Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla, warning that they will demand his resignation if he fails to convene an emergency meeting of the Academic Council (AC) to address the ongoing stalemate surrounding the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP).

During a protest rally held at the university on Thursday, NEHUTA President Lakhon Kma announced their ultimatum and expressed the association's frustration with the Vice Chancellor's lack of response to their democratic processes, which included requests for a rectification of his decision to implement the NEP without approval from the AC.

“We will not set any more deadlines for the VC to act. We will decide on our next course of agitation within a week or ten days,” Kma told the press, highlighting the urgency of their demands.

According to Kma, the VC’s refusal to convene the meeting is seen as an attempt to run the university as his personal enterprise, disregarding the statutory authority of the university. “We do not want to have a VC who is arrogant, insensitive, and illogical. We hope some good sense prevails, and the VC will realize the need to rectify his decision, which will be in the best interest of the students and the university,” he was quoted as saying.

Earlier in the day, the demonstration of the association commenced with a gathering at the central library, followed by a silent procession towards the Vice-Chancellor's office, where a sit-in protest was organized.

NEHUTA alleges that Prof Shukla has operated in a unilateral and dictatorial manner, purportedly misusing his power as Vice-Chancellor. The union claims that this misuse jeopardizes the academic interests of the university, its affiliated colleges, students, and the university community at large. In response, NEHUTA has intensified its agitation against Prof Shukla. The NEHUTA President accused the VC of undermining the authority of the AC and stressed that the AC’s decision to implement the NEP from 2024-2025 had been disregarded. He further alleged that the VC had misrepresented the AC’s decision to the media.

Additionally, NEHUTA compiled a document denouncing the VC as one of the worst the university has seen in decades. The document described the VC as “illogical, arrogant, and insensitive,” accusing him of openly violating Acts, Statutes, Ordinances, and Regulations to suit his personal agenda.

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