Protests intensify at Tezpur University as ministry team stopped at campus gate

Tension escalated at Tezpur University as students prevented a three-member Education Ministry team and senior Sonitpur district officials from entering the campus for hours, intensifying a standoff that has already halted all academic activity since Nov 29.

The delegation had arrived to meet students, faculty and staff, but protesters blocked the main gate and insisted they would move only after receiving a written assurance on Vice Chancellor M Singh’s removal.

A handwritten note forwarded by a senior ministry official was shown to the students, but they refused to accept it, arguing that the document carried an incorrect date.

Police reinforcements were deployed outside the campus while demonstrators continued chanting slogans against the vice chancellor.

Inside the campus, ministry representative Joshi briefed reporters after interacting with stakeholders.

“We came here to meet the students, teachers, staff members and understand their view of the recent developments. We had a fruitful discussion with them. They have given us their feedback,” he said.

Joshi added that two fact-finding inquiries had already been completed and the ministry was reviewing all inputs before making a decision.

“Based on these, the central government will take the matter forward. Whatever decision we take, I am sure it will be in interest of the university,” he said.

The Tezpur University United Forum, which is leading the agitation, said it was disappointed by the lack of a clear response even after 79 days of demonstrations.

“The team, still within the premises are faced with thousands of students who are sitting on the road, demanding immediate action,” the forum said in a statement.

It added that the prolonged deadlock had forced the community to take a harder position to ensure its concerns were not overlooked. The protest will continue until a formal written assurance is issued, it said.

End-term examinations have been cancelled, and both the teachers’ and non-teaching employees’ associations have backed the strike.

The vice chancellor has not returned to campus since Sept 22 after a confrontation with students.

In an unexpected development, the senior-most professor, Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya, assumed charge as acting vice chancellor, citing university regulations.

A day earlier, the vice chancellor held a virtual Board of Management meeting and named Mass Communication professor Joya Chakraborty as pro-VC, but she declined the appointment.

The unrest, which began in mid-September, was initially triggered by allegations that the vice chancellor and university authorities did not show proper respect after the death of singer Zubeen Garg.

Staff members later raised complaints of fiscal irregularities and environmental degradation on campus.

At the same time, the Education Ministry is facing criticism over its handling of leadership issues across central universities in the Northeast.

While it moved quickly in the Tezpur University case, a prolonged crisis remains unresolved at North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong.

NEHU’s vice chancellor, PS Shukla, has been away from campus for more than a year and is reportedly issuing orders from a self-declared “camp office” at a Guwahati guest house.

His attempts to hold Executive Council meetings in Delhi have sparked objections from senior administrators, who insist such sessions must take place on campus and can be chaired by the senior Pro-Vice Chancellor when the VC is absent.

Key decisions, including confirmations of staff services and advertisements for non-teaching vacancies, are stalled.

The university is struggling with deep structural issues, including cuts in recurring grants, vacancies across all statutory positions, nearly 60% shortage of sanctioned staff, and affiliated colleges seeking de-affiliation.

Implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 has also slowed due to administrative paralysis.

Faculty members say several teachers who initially agreed to take administrative roles have since stepped aside due to mounting pressure.

The Shillong-based PVC has also expressed concern about being left to manage full operations with limited support.

NEHU’s turmoil intensified in October 2024, when students launched a major protest accusing the vice chancellor of financial irregularities, mismanagement and anti-local bias in recruitment.

Teaching and non-teaching staff and local community groups supported the agitation. Following ministry intervention, Prof Sumarbin Umdor was appointed PVC, and core academic functions such as examinations and CUET-based admissions have continued under his oversight.