Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Students and research scholars at Tezpur University are demanding a transparent end to a stalled statutory enquiry. They want the registrar to send their formal representation to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education and the Additional Secretary of the Department of Higher Education immediately. The group seeks accountability for the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor Prof Shambhu Nath Singh. They describe the former official as "absconding" in their recent request.
The committee formed on December 31, 2025, finished its work. It was scheduled to submit findings by March 31, 2026. Despite the report being turned in, the university has kept the results hidden from the public. This lack of transparency has fueled unrest on campus. Students cite a shortage of funds, administrative uncertainty, and a delayed 2025 convocation as primary grievances.
Protesters fear the delay acts as retaliation for their past complaints about corruption. They promised a full shutdown if the Ministry does not address these issues soon. Stakeholders may release private evidence if communication remains stalled. They point to a December 19, 2025, resolution from a Guwahati Citizens' Convention. That agreement allows for an independent public enquiry run by retired judges, educators, and activists. Students are now waiting for a written response from the government.
Updated at 12th September 2026 at 1:49am
The three-member panel tasked with the investigation included Manipur University VC N. Lokendra Singh as chairman, alongside Nagaland University VC Jagadish Kumar Patnaik and UGC Secretary Manish R. Joshi. Students say the oversight team visited the campus on January 20, 2026, and already processed evidence from prior probes, including a magisterial inquiry and a Governor-led fact-finding team that visited in October 2025.
Protesters specifically flagged the alleged diversion of funds meant for student welfare into renovations for the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and guest house. Other complaints include the unauthorized felling of bamboo groves, pollution of local water bodies, and poorly maintained hostel infrastructure, such as broken water filtration systems. While Pro-Vice-Chancellor Amarendra Kumar Das helped stabilize daily operations after taking charge on January 7, students warned that administrative continuity does not equate to accountability.
The Tezpur University Teachers’ Association has also waded into the fray. The group questioned the legal basis for keeping the former VC on the payroll, pointing out that his prolonged leave far exceeds the limits permitted for his office. Students underscored the university's roots in the 1985 Assam Accord, warning officials in Delhi to respect regional sentiments while wrapping up the investigation.
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