Assam's Tezpur University has been shut down by students, faculty and non-teaching staff for an indefinite period over allegations of corruption and financial irregularities against Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh. The stakeholders of the university have demanded the replacement of the VC.
The Indian Express reported that, protests have been continuing in the university for more than two months, until the students of the institution declared that all academic and administrative work will shut down from Saturday.
Who are protesting at Tezpur University?
The Tezpur University United Forum is organising the protests with support from the Tezpur University Teachers' Association and the Tezpur University Non-Teaching Employees' Association.
A rescheduling of semester examinations has been ordered by the Controller of Examinations (COE), which were set to begin on December 5. The examinations will now commence on the eighth of this month.
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The current situation of Tezpur University
Being the only other central university in the state apart from Assam University, Tezpur holds a place of prestige. Shambhu Nath Singh was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the institution in March 2023.
The Indian Express reported that the students and staff of Tezpur have accused the Vice-Chancellor of financial irregularities. It has also been alleged that Singh is absent from the campus most of the time. It has been alleged that the absence of the VC has led to the decay of infrastructure, administrative slump and academics have been majorly disrupted.
The Tezpur University Teachers' Association told the Union Ministry of Education in a memorandum dated November 18 that the Vice-Chancellor has been instrumental in extending the finance officer's tenure multiple times, made untrustworthy faculty recruitments, and has been involved in awarding tenders to preferred vendors and making unclear financial decisions, among many other issues, The Indian Express reported.
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The Zubeen Garg factor
Tensions at Tezpur University escalated after students accused the administration of ignoring their sentiments following Zubeen Garg's death on September 19. A student told The Indian Express that the Vice-Chancellor was absent that day and the student council elections were still held the following day.
A magisterial probe against Tezpur University authorities to investigate the alleged disrespect of Zubeen Garg has been ordered by the Sonitpur District Administration, PTI reported.
A total of 11 teachers and administrative staff have resigned from their posts following the start of the agitation, including Finance Officer Braja Bandhu Mishra, and the registrar-in-charge, several deans, directors and assistant deans, PTI reported.
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Himanta Biswa Sarma speaks to Dharmendra Pradhan
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has spoken to Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan and requested him to appoint a Pro-VC at the earliest, and informed him about the situation at Tezpur University. But the students remain unperturbed in their demand for the appointment of an alternative VC, not a Pro-VC, in place of Shambhu Nath Singh.
