SHILLONG: A high-stakes legal battle in the Meghalaya High Court is set to decide the political fate of Dr. Batskhem Myrboh, the Voice of the People Party’s (VPP) candidate for the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election.
The prominent educator and VPP spokesperson was forced to seek immediate judicial intervention following a prolonged administrative delay by North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in granting his service confirmation and a mandatory No-Objection Certificate (NOC) necessary for his parliamentary candidacy.
Commenting on the situation, VPP legislator Brightstarwell Marbaniang stated that the party’s prospects now rest entirely with the judiciary, which is expected to pronounce its order within the next day or two.
Marbaniang expressed strong confidence in the upcoming judicial directive, emphasizing that all involved parties would be legally bound to abide by the court’s decision.
The VPP MLA sharply criticized NEHU’s administrative silence, arguing that under standard University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, the university should have processed the NOC immediately upon the completion of Dr. Myrboh’s probation.
According to Marbaniang, academic guidelines dictate that confirmation of service should follow automatically if an employee completes their service period without receiving any adverse communication or disciplinary notice from management, meaning the university merely needed to issue the necessary paperwork.
When questioned about potential political undertones behind the administrative standoff, Marbaniang refrained from direct speculation but emphasized that the VPP could not afford to remain passive.
With the crucial by-election fast approaching—anticipated to take place around October or November—the party is determined to fight for its candidate’s right to contest.
In his writ petition, Dr. Myrboh contended that he had successfully completed his two-year probation period with no pending disciplinary proceedings against him, making the university’s failure to act on his formal application legally unjustifiable.
The Meghalaya High Court has already taken formal cognizance of the administrative delay, issuing a direct notice to NEHU demanding an official response.
This unfolding legal drama adds an intense layer of tension to an already highly anticipated parliamentary by-election.
The Shillong Lok Sabha seat fell vacant earlier this year following the tragic demise of the sitting MP and senior VPP leader, Dr. Ricky A.J. Syngkon, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in February.
In a striking parallel, Dr. Syngkon was also a professor at NEHU, leaving VPP leaders and supporters eagerly awaiting the court’s final verdict to ensure their new candidate can seamlessly step into the electoral race.
