Shillong, June 26: The Meghalaya High Court has deferred further hearing in the petition filed by Voice of the People Party (VPP) candidate and North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) professor Batskhem Myrboh after being informed that the university’s Executive Council will decide on his service confirmation and issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) on July 7. The administrative stand-off over the pending confirmation and NOC has assumed significance as both are crucial for Myrboh’s candidature in the forthcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election. The court will now hear the matter on July 10. It may be noted that under NEHU ordinances, confirmation of teachers is automatic after the completion of the prescribed probation period.
The Executive Council meeting, originally scheduled for June 25, was postponed to July 7. Recording the submission made on behalf of the university, the court observed, “Ms. E. Blah, learned counsel on behalf of the respondents submits that the Executive Council meeting was held on 25th June, 2026, but the same was postponed to 7th July, 2026. Accordingly, list this matter on 10th July, 2026.”
Reacting to the proceedings, Voice of the People Party MLA from Mawlai Brightstarwell Marbaniang said the issue now rests with the High Court. “I think you, you might be aware the matter is with the Meghalaya High court and I think now, it’s up to the Meghalaya high court, I think in the in the day or two, the court will issue and order and accordingly, whoever have to abide by that order, they have to. So, I see no reason that, in fact, if you go by the UGC regulations, after if you have completed one year of service, if there is anything from the management, they will inform the person concern. If there is anything adverse, but then if there is nothing automatically it has been confirmed, and once confirmed that, that means NEHU just need to give the NOC.”
Asked whether there was any political angle behind the delay, Marbaniang said, “It is for them, for us, the election is Maybe my October or November, So we cannot just sit. We have to fight.”
Myrboh moved the High Court alleging that NEHU had delayed action on his applications seeking confirmation of service and the mandatory NOC required to contest the by-election. In his petition, he contended that he has completed his two-year probation at the university and that no disciplinary proceedings are pending against him, yet the university has neither confirmed his service nor issued the required NOC.
The High Court had earlier issued notice to NEHU in the writ petition filed by Myrboh seeking service confirmation and permission to contest the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election.
The Shillong parliamentary constituency fell vacant following the death earlier this year of sitting Member of Parliament and senior VPP leader Dr. Ricky A.J. Syngkon. The continuing administrative stand-off has added a fresh layer of tension to the closely watched by-election, which was necessitated by Syngkon’s sudden demise following a cardiac arrest in February.
