SHILLONG: In a scathing indictment of the current administration of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Lok Sabha MP from Shillong constituency Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon has formally urged the Government of India to remove the sitting Vice-Chancellor, citing a “total collapse of trust” and a steep decline in academic and administrative standards.
Warning that the once-prestigious university is on the brink of institutional decay, the MP said NEHU—long regarded as the intellectual backbone of the Northeast—is rapidly losing credibility under the present leadership.
Addressing the media, Dr. Syngkon, who shares a long personal and academic association with NEHU, painted a bleak picture of the situation on campus. He claimed that students, faculty members, and non-teaching staff have completely lost faith in the Vice-Chancellor’s leadership.
“The glory days of NEHU are fading. What was once a beacon of academic excellence has witnessed a drastic decline, and the responsibility squarely lies with the current administration,” he said.
The MP highlighted what he described as a serious administrative vacuum crippling the university’s functioning. Crucial statutory posts—including the Registrar and the Finance Officer—remain vacant or are being managed without permanent appointments.
“This is not just a NEHU problem; it is a Meghalaya problem,” Dr. Syngkon asserted.
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He warned that governance failures at NEHU are triggering a domino effect, severely affecting affiliated colleges across the state and jeopardising the academic future of thousands of students.
Dr. Syngkon also raised serious objections to the manner in which the National Education Policy (NEP) is being implemented. Drawing comparisons with states such as Tamil Nadu, he criticised the Centre for enforcing reforms without adequately assessing regional realities.
Among the key concerns flagged by the MP were:
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Absence of state-specific research, making policy implementation risky
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Lessons ignored from the failure of earlier frameworks like the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS)
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Chronic neglect, with NEHU frequently left under pro-tem leadership or Pro Vice-Chancellors for extended periods
“Change imposed from above, without understanding ground realities, is dangerous for institutions like NEHU,” he cautioned.
Dr. Syngkon said the matter has now reached the corridors of Indian Parliament, and he is closely monitoring developments. He expressed hope that the Centre would take decisive action, including stripping the Vice-Chancellor of his powers to restore stability and credibility.
“Education is the future of our nation. We cannot afford to remain silent while our institutions crumble,” the MP concluded.
