Students on hunger strike over delay in probe into charges against TU VC

Guwahati: Students at Tezpur University (TU), supported by faculty and staff, on Monday initiated a hunger strike on campus in response to the ministry of education’s (MoE) alleged inaction regarding an investigation into the corruption charges against vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh.VC Singh has been absent from the university for 3 months after accusations of financial and academic misconduct were raised against him.On Dec 6, a high-level team from the MoE, led by UGC chairman and higher education secretary Vineet Joshi, visited the university to address the ongoing crisis. Although the ministry’s joint secretary Saumya Gupta assured the students of an investigation into Singh’s conduct, students claim no probe commenced, leading them to launch a hunger strike on Monday.In a media release, TU students said, “Stakeholders of Tezpur University observed a 9-hour hunger strike, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (Monday), demanding an immediate and official response from the MoE. The strike aims to demand swift action from the MoE against Shambhu Nath Singh. The MoE has been ignoring the community’s growing frustration over the ministry’s continued silence despite sustained agitation and repeated appeals.

”Stakeholders emphasise that restoring academic and administrative normalcy is now the MoE’s responsibility.Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya, the senior-most faculty member, assumed the role of acting VC on Dec 5, citing the Tezpur University Act, 1993. Prior to this, another senior faculty member, Joya Chakraborty, had turned down the post of pro-VC. Although Bhattacharya’s role as acting VC has not been officially recognised by the MoE, TU officials said he persuaded the student community to participate in rescheduled semester-end exams from Dec 11.Meanwhile, over 500 letters were sent to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan from Tezpur’s head post office on Monday, urging his intervention to resolve the TU crisis. Tezpur MLA Prithiraj Rabha, after sending a letter, said, “Today, we have started sending letters. We hope that CM Himanta Biswa Sarma will take the lead to save TU and its students.”