Shillong, August 5: The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to two of its faculty members, clearing the way for them to contest the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha bye-election.
The decision was taken during the 88th Emergent Meeting of the NEHU Executive Council held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of In-charge Vice-Chancellor Prof. Saroj Kanta Barik.
The Executive Council approved the issuance of NOCs to Dr. D.R.L. Nonglait of the Department of Khasi and Prof. Batskhem Myrboh of the Department of Political Science. Dr. Nonglait is contesting the bye-election as the National People’s Party (NPP) candidate, while Prof. Myrboh is in the fray as the Voice of the People Party (VPP) nominee.
Speaking after the meeting, Prof. Barik said the proposal had been discussed in detail before receiving the Executive Council’s approval.
He also clarified that if either of the candidates is elected, they will have to take leave from the university, in accordance with NEHU rules. The matter would again be placed before the Executive Council, which has the authority to decide on the leave application.
Expressing his personal views, the Vice-Chancellor wished both candidates success, saying the university would be proud if one of its faculty members entered the legislature.
Prof. Barik said he had limited interaction with both professors, noting that he had met Dr. Nonglait only once during an Academic Council meeting related to college affiliations.
The development comes after Prof. Myrboh had approached the Meghalaya High Court over the alleged delay in the issuance of the NOC. With the certificates now issued, both candidates are officially cleared to campaign for the bye-election.
The Shillong Lok Sabha bye-election was necessitated following the death of sitting MP and NEHU professor Dr. Ricky AJ Syngkon on February 19 this year.
The parliamentary constituency comprises 36 Assembly segments spread across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, with both Dr. Nonglait and Prof. Myrboh having already intensified their election campaigns across the region.
