Tezpur University Crisis Deepens as Students and Staff Reject CM’s Pro-VC Proposal
The shutdown at Tezpur University has entered its sixth day as students, faculty, and staff reject Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s proposal to appoint a pro-vice-chancellor. The Joint Action Forum maintains its demands for the suspension of current VC Shambhu Nath Singh, appointment of an acting VC instead of a pro-VC, and release of all inquiry reports. The forum questioned the CM’s “sudden” intervention, suggesting political motives. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi accused the CM of shielding the VC. While partial relaxation has been allowed for essential work, both TUTA and TUNTEA continue supporting the agitation. The VC has stayed away from campus since September 22 following a confrontation with students.
NETB24
The ongoing shutdown at Tezpur University entered its sixth day as students, faculty, and non-teaching staff collectively rejected Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s proposal to appoint a pro-vice-chancellor (pro-VC) to resolve the crisis.
In a statement, the Tezpur University Joint Action Forum reaffirmed that their core demands remain unchanged:
-
Immediate suspension of the current vice-chancellor, Shambhu Nath Singh, pending enquiry.
-
Appointment of an acting vice-chancellor instead of a pro-VC.
-
Public release of all inquiry reports submitted to the authorities.
The forum also questioned the timing of the chief minister’s “sudden” intervention, hinting it may be linked to the national attention the issue has drawn. “We doubt whether he is acting out of genuine responsibility or political self-preservation,” the statement said.
The response came after CM Sarma posted on social media that he had spoken to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and urged the Centre to appoint a pro-VC until an impartial enquiry into the current VC is completed.
State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi criticised the chief minister, accusing him of “masking the failures” of the current VC by insisting on a pro-VC appointment. “Real leadership would have meant standing with the faculty, staff, and students of this prestigious university,” Gogoi said in a social media post.
Meanwhile, a faculty member confirmed that the shutdown has been partially relaxed since Wednesday morning, allowing essential departmental work and pending tasks to be completed for a few hours. Both the Tezpur University Teachers’ Association (TUTA) and the Tezpur University Non-Teaching Employees’ Association (TUNTEA) have extended full support to the agitation.
Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh has not returned to the campus since September 22, following a heated altercation with students that forced him to leave the premises.
