Tezpur University Protesters Commit to Ongoing Shutdown Until VC is Removed

Agitators at Tezpur University have declared a continued shutdown of the institution until there is formal communication from the government regarding the removal of Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh. Protests have been ongoing since mid-September, centered around allegations of misconduct against the VC.

The picturesque campus, located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra in Assam, witnessed heightened tensions over the weekend when a delegation from the Union Ministry of Education, led by Secretary Vineet Joshi, was unable to leave due to the protests.

After being stuck for several hours, the delegation was permitted to exit after receiving a written assurance that Singh would not administer the university during an ongoing inquiry into the allegations against him.

The Tezpur University United Forum, representing students, teachers, and non-teaching staff, expressed disappointment over the lack of concrete action after 79 days of protests. They are demanding a formal agreement regarding Singh's removal.

The protestors have enforced a complete shutdown of all university activities, including academic sessions, and have called for non-compliance until their demands are met.

During a meeting with the ministry officials, several governance issues concerning Singh were discussed. A hand-written assurance noted that a strict inquiry would be initiated, maintaining that Singh would not be in charge during this period.

The ongoing situation has led to the cancellation of all end-term examinations, and the support for the protests is growing among the faculty and non-teaching staff.

As tensions rise, the university community remains steadfast in their demands for accountability and transparency in leadership.