Education Ministry Team Leaves Assam University After Protest Resolution

A team from the Education Ministry was permitted to leave Tezpur University after students received written assurances regarding the vice-chancellor’s status amid protests over financial irregularities.

India

-Krishna Kripa

A
Ministry
of
Education
team
was
confined
at
Assam’s
Tezpur
University
by
students
demanding
the
vice-chancellor’s
removal
over
alleged
financial
misconduct.
The
team,
led
by
UGC
Chairman
Vineet
Joshi,
was
allowed
to
leave
late
Saturday
after
the
university
provided
a
written
assurance.
The
assurance
stated
that
VC
Shambu
Nath
Singh
would
not
officiate
until
an
inquiry
is
completed.

Protests
and
Demands
at
Tezpur
University

The
students’
blockade
at
the
main
gate
was
lifted
just
before
midnight.
This
followed
the
ministry
team’s
acceptance
of
the
protesters’
demands.
The
students
had
been
protesting
since
November
29,
halting
all
academic
activities.
They
insisted
on
a
written
guarantee
for
Singh’s
removal
before
ending
their
protest.

Police
were
stationed
at
the
gate
as
students
chanted
slogans
against
the
vice-chancellor.
Registrar
Chandan
Goswami
confirmed
that
Jaya
Chakraborty,
appointed
as
pro-VC
by
Singh,
would
not
assume
the
role.
Dhruba
Kumar
Bhattacharyya,
the
senior-most
faculty
member,
will
act
as
VC
in
the
interim.

University
Community’s
Response

The
Tezpur
University
United
Forum
(TUUF)
expressed
dissatisfaction
over
the
lack
of
resolution
despite
79
days
of
peaceful
protest.
They
stated
that
systemic
indifference
forced
them
to
adopt
a
firmer
stance.
The
forum
vowed
to
continue
their
agitation
until
a
satisfactory
written
response
is
received.

End-term
exams
have
been
cancelled,
with
support
from
the
Tezpur
University
Teachers
Association
(TUTA)
and
Non-Teaching
Employees
Association
(TUNTEA).
The
vice-chancellor
had
been
absent
from
campus
since
a
confrontation
with
students
on
September
22.

Background
and
Developments

The
situation
has
been
tense
since
mid-September
due
to
allegations
against
Singh
and
university
authorities.
Students
accused
them
of
disrespecting
singer
Zubeen
Garg
during
state
mourning
for
his
death.
Besides
financial
issues,
staffers
protested
against
alleged
deforestation
under
Singh’s
administration.

In
a
significant
development,
Dhruba
Kumar
Bhattacharyya
assumed
charge
as
acting
VC
on
Friday,
citing
university
laws.
This
followed
Singh’s
virtual
Board
of
Management
meeting
on
Thursday,
where
he
appointed
Joya
Chakraborty
as
pro-VC,
a
position
she
declined.

Joshi
mentioned
that
two
fact-finding
inquiries
had
been
conducted.
“We
came
here
to
meet
the
students,
teachers,
staff
members
and
understand
their
view
of
the
recent
developments.
We
had
a
fruitful
discussion
with
them.
They
have
given
us
their
feedback,” he
said.

The
ministry
is
reviewing
all
information
and
will
take
appropriate
action.
“Based
on
these,
the
central
government
will
take
the
matter
forward.
Whatever
decision
we
take,
I
am
sure
it
will
be
in
interest
of
the
university,” Joshi
added.

With
inputs
from
PTI