Exclusive
Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee president and the State Congress’ recommended nominee for the upcoming Shillong parliamentary bye-election, Vincent H. Pala, told Meghalaya News 24 the prolonged crisis at North-Eastern Hill University could be resolved if the Centre appointed a “proper” Vice-Chancellor capable of engaging with stakeholders and restoring confidence within the institution through dialogue and consensus-building. Against the backdrop of the continuing physical absence of the Vice-Chancellor from the Shillong campus and the prevailing administrative uncertainty at NEHU, Pala stressed that the concerns raised by faculty members, non-teaching staff and students were genuine and required a sensitive and consultative approach from the Union Government. He also asserted that the academic future of students should never suffer due to institutional conflicts, particularly at a premier educational institution serving the North East.
His remarks come amid the severe governance crisis at NEHU arising from the prolonged absence of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla from the Shillong campus, even as his tenure is nearing completion. The situation has triggered growing concern among students and teachers over administrative functioning and academic stability.
Recalling his tenure as Member of Parliament, Pala said the university had witnessed similar internal disputes in the past involving professors and non-teaching staff, but such matters were handled through discussions with officials in the Union Ministry of Education without disturbing students.
“The NEHU have genuine concern, and if centre gives a proper vice chancellor have a common understanding or have a discussion with the people then I think NEHU will not have a big problem,” Pala said.
Emphasising that students must remain the top priority, Pala said disruptions affecting academic life should be avoided at all costs. “But we never disturb the students because my main concern was always that students are the top priority. We should not sacrifice the students’ career,” the former MP said.
The MPCC Chief further said the tenure of Prof PS Shukla as Vice Chancellor of NEHU is also coming to an end and maintained that the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor should be based on merit and competence rather than solely on local considerations, even as demands have emerged from some quarters for a local candidate.
“It’s not necessary to be a local but it should be who deserve to be. You cannot compromise institutions because of local candidate. Preference can be there, if there is the same quality in local and non local then we can opt for local but according to me, Education we shouldn’t compromise and see who is the best for students. We are living in the world of competition, so we cannot compromise only on the basis of local candidates,” he added.
