In a significant development aimed at addressing a prolonged campus crisis, Tezpur University's board of management on Thursday appointed Professor Joya Chakraborty as the new pro-vice-chancellor of the central institution. The appointment follows high-level consultations involving the university's chancellor and Assam state government officials.
A Move Amidst Ongoing Campus Shutdown
The decision comes at a critical time as students and staff have shut down the university for six consecutive days. Their primary demand is the removal of the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shambhu Nath Singh, and the immediate appointment of an acting VC to restore normalcy. The board's blended meeting, which led to the pro-VC appointment, was chaired by VC Singh himself and attended by senior members including professors KRS Sambasiva Rao, Sumitra Kukreti, Ajay Kumar Singh, and Anita Priyadarshini.
However, the appointment of a pro-VC, rather than an acting VC, has not satisfied the protesting groups. A senior official from the University Grants Commission (UGC) clarified the legal position, stating that an acting VC can only be appointed when the post is vacant. Since VC Shambhu Nath Singh is still in office, the appointment of a pro-VC is the permissible course of action under the existing regulations.
Fast-Tracked Inquiry and Political Reactions
Simultaneously, sources within the Ministry of Education have indicated that a visitorial inquiry against VC Shambhu Nath Singh will be fast-tracked. This inquiry will probe serious allegations of corruption and financial irregularities. Preliminary findings from the Ministry are reported to have prima facie found truth in the allegations, paving the way for formal action after the visitorial probe concludes.
The political dimension of the crisis has also intensified. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that he urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to appoint a pro-VC immediately. This move, according to Sarma, is intended to maintain academic stability pending an impartial enquiry into the conduct of the current VC.
In contrast, the Tezpur University United Forum, representing the protesters, has outrightly rejected the pro-VC proposal. They insist that only the appointment of an acting VC will meet their demands and resolve the standoff. Adding to the political fire, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi launched a sharp attack on CM Sarma. On social media platform 'X', Gogoi accused the Chief Minister of "masking the failures" of VC Singh and shielding him instead of standing with the university's faculty, staff, and students.
The Road Ahead for Tezpur University
The appointment of Professor Joya Chakraborty, a faculty member from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, as Pro-VC is a key administrative step. Yet, it remains to be seen whether this will quell the unrest or if the protests will persist until the central demands regarding the Vice-Chancellor are met. The outcome of the fast-tracked visitorial inquiry is now highly anticipated, as it will likely determine the future leadership and stability of the prestigious central university.
The situation underscores the deep tensions within the campus and highlights the complex interplay between university governance, student activism, and political intervention in India's higher education landscape.
