In a decisive move to address the prolonged unrest at Tezpur University, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has intervened, placing the Vice-Chancellor on leave and appointing a new Pro Vice-Chancellor. The ministry has also constituted a high-level committee to investigate the multitude of allegations that have plunged the central university into crisis for over three months.
Ministry Steps In: VC on Leave, New Pro-VC Appointed
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Education issued an official memorandum outlining key actions. Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh has been directed to "recuse himself from all duties and proceed on leave immediately." He will remain on leave until a formal enquiry into the allegations against him is completed.
Simultaneously, the ministry appointed Professor Amrendra Kumar Das from the department of design at IIT Guwahati as the new Pro Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University. This appointment follows an earlier appeal by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging the swift appointment of a Pro-VC to restore academic stability.
Three-Member Enquiry Committee Formed
The MoE has constituted a three-member panel to conduct a thorough probe into the ongoing situation. The committee has been tasked with examining all matters related to the crisis, including the specific allegations levelled against Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh.
The enquiry committee is headed by Manipur University Vice-Chancellor N Lokendra Singh. The other members are Nagaland University Vice-Chancellor Jagadish Kumar Patnaik and UGC Secretary Manish R Joshi. The panel has been asked to submit its findings and report within a period of three months.
Roots of the Protests and Escalating Unrest
The university has been witnessing sustained protests since mid-September. The agitation, which recently completed 100 days, was marked by a 24-hour hunger strike by protesters on Monday. The initial trigger for the protests dates back to September 27, when students accused the VC and administration of failing to show due respect to cultural icon Zubeen Garg during a state-wide period of mourning.
The grievances, however, expanded significantly. Protesters have raised serious concerns over alleged financial irregularities during Singh's tenure. Additionally, issues of deforestation and ecological damage on the university campus have been highlighted by the protesting students and teachers.
The situation intensified following a heated confrontation between the Vice-Chancellor and students on September 22. The exchange was so volatile that the VC reportedly had to leave the spot abruptly and subsequently stayed away from the campus, further deepening the administrative vacuum and the trust deficit.
The Ministry of Education's intervention, after nearly three months of relentless protests, aims to pave the way for a fair investigation and the eventual restoration of normalcy and academic order at Tezpur University.
