Change at Tezpur University: Tezpur University VC sent on leave amid student protests; Enquiry committee to probe allegations of misconduct

Guwahati: The Ministry of Education (MoE) on Wednesday appointed professor Amrendra Kumar Das of IIT Guwahati’s department of design as the pro vice-chancellor of Tezpur University and constituted a three-member enquiry committee to probe the ongoing crisis at the central university, including allegations against vice-chancellor (VC) Shambhu Nath Singh.Nearly three months after students and teachers began protests demanding Singh’s removal, the MoE has asked the VC to proceed on leave and has ordered a formal enquiry into the allegations, an office memorandum issued by the ministry said.The university has witnessed sustained protests since mid-September over alleged irregularities during Singh’s tenure. On Monday, protesters had observed a 24-hour hunger strike to mark 100 days of their agitation.“The vice-chancellor shall recuse himself from all duties and proceed on leave immediately, and shall remain on leave till the completion of the enquiry,” the memorandum said, adding that the three-member panel will examine “all matters pertaining to the ongoing situation in Tezpur University, including allegations levelled against the vice-chancellor.”The enquiry committee has been asked to submit its report within three months and will be headed by Manipur University vice-chancellor N Lokendra Singh, with Nagaland University vice-chancellor Jagadish Kumar Patnaik and UGC secretary Manish R Joshi as members.Earlier, last month, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma had spoken to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging the immediate appointment of a pro-VC to restore academic stability.Tezpur University has been in turmoil since Sept 27 after students accused the VC and the university administration of failing to show due respect to cultural icon Zubeen Garg during a period of mourning in the state.Apart from allegations of financial irregularities, protesters have also raised concerns over deforestation and ecological damage on the university’s campus during Singh’s tenure.The unrest intensified following a heated exchange between Singh and students on September 22, after which the VC reportedly had to leave the spot abruptly and subsequently stayed away from the campus.