Shillong, February 23 (MExN): The North Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) organized a protest gathering of teachers today before the Vice-Chancellors’ office highlighting what it alleged “serious non-functioning” of NEHU administration. The current impasse, the association stated, was created as large number of teachers have been denied timely promotions due to the “insensitivity of the Vice-Chancellor and his administration.” As per UGC norms there are three categories of Assistant Professors, namely stages 1, 2 and 3, the association pointed out adding, for promotions to these categories, the process of internal review is kept pending by the VC thus creating a mess in the careers of teachers and in effect, grossly affecting the academic performance of the university. The NEHUTA also termed it a matter of “great concern” that the Vice-Chancellor as the Chairman of Executive Council and other statutory bodies was not conducting meetings regularly as per provisions of the university regulations. Furthermore, the association noted with deep anguish that in the last two and half years’ tenure of the present VC, important statutory positions such as Finance Officer, University Engineer and Registrar etc. are left vacant and thereby creating an administrative paralysis in the functioning of the premier university. “Overall functioning of the university is grossly affected by such serious dysfunctioning of the statutory bodies and authorities of the university for which the VC remains solely responsible,” the association maintained. As such, the Association informed that it will be carrying out a series of democratic “nonviolent” protest until the demands of the teachers are fulfilled.
