Shillong: Professor R. Khongsdier of the Department of Anthropology is breaking his silence. He claims the Ministry of Education ignored statutory seniority when they passed him over for the Vice-Chancellor role at North-Eastern Hill University. The post went to Prof. Saroj Kanta Barik instead. "It is a fact that as per the statutory provisions of the university, the Ministry should have first offered the position to me as the senior-most professor," Khongsdier stated.
Khongsdier also slammed the previous Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla. He alleges Shukla acted illegally by running a camp office from Guwahati. Khongsdier brushed off claims that he declined the job twice. He noted he could not replace Shukla while he remained in office. There was no legal basis for a takeover.
The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) is now pressuring the administration. Education secretary Enlang Sawian led a protest outside the VC’s office on Thursday. They demanded Barik resign, arguing his appointment is illegitimate. They claim the appointment order itself lists Barik as only the second most senior professor. HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem met with Governor CH Vijayashankar on Wednesday to seek intervention.
Barik was away in Kolkata during the Thursday protest. The HYC submitted a formal memorandum to university authorities and requested a meeting for this coming Monday. They maintain this is about following university law, not a personal attack. The council is weighing whether to seek support from the NEHU Teachers’ Association and Students’ Union.
The HYC faces significant backlash online. Critics accuse the group of playing identity politics and stirring up unnecessary drama. Supporters of the current appointment argue that merit outweighs seniority. Some warn that constant instability could force the central government to move the university out of the state.
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