Shillong, July 30: The Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC) has urged Professor Saroj Kanta Barik, In-charge Vice-Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), to resign from the post on moral grounds, citing concerns over adherence to the NEHU Statutes and the university’s governance processes.
In a letter addressed to Prof. Barik on Thursday, the HYC said that as a senior professor who has served NEHU for many years, he is well acquainted with the provisions of the North-Eastern Hill University Act, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations. The Council said the acceptance of the office of In-charge Vice-Chancellor had raised concerns among stakeholders of the Central University, particularly over what it described as questions regarding conformity with the NEHU Statutes.
According to the HYC, the office of Vice-Chancellor is the highest statutory office in the university and carries the responsibility of ensuring adherence to the institution’s governing legal framework. It said appointments to the post are therefore expected to be made and accepted in strict accordance with the applicable Statutes.
The Council also expressed concern over what it described as perceptions of deviation from established norms of fair and transparent academic administration at NEHU. It specifically stated that senior and eligible faculty member Prof. R. Khongsdier had not been accorded due consideration in accordance with merit, seniority and established institutional practice. The HYC said adherence to such principles was essential to maintaining public confidence in the fairness of the university’s governance system.
In view of its concerns, the Council respectfully appealed to Prof. Barik to consider resigning from the office of In-charge Vice-Chancellor on moral grounds, saying such a step would demonstrate respect for statutory provisions and uphold the dignity of his long academic service.
The HYC further requested Prof. Barik to advise the competent authority to entrust the charge of Vice-Chancellor to the senior-most professor in accordance with the provisions of the NEHU Statutes. The Council said such a move would help restore confidence in the university’s administrative processes and ensure continuity in governance.
The HYC reiterated its commitment to protecting the autonomy, integrity and statutory governance of NEHU and warned that, failing a favourable response, it would be compelled to take other courses of action to ensure that its demands are fulfilled in the interests of the community and the university as a whole.
