NEHU Staff and Students Demand Salary Suspension for VC, Registrar, and Deputy Registrar

The associations argued that Prof. Shukla, Omkar Singh, and Amit Gupta have exhausted all their earned leave.

The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA), the Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA), and the Students’ Union (NEHUSU) have formally urged Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. N. Saha to stop the salaries of Vice Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, Registrar Omkar Singh, and Deputy Registrar Amit Gupta starting March 2025.

In a letter, the associations pointed out that Prof. Shukla went on earned leave on November 15, 2024, following advice from the Director of Higher Education, Government of India. His leave, which was extended until March 2, 2025, ended without him returning or reporting to the NEHU headquarters in Shillong. This has resulted in 130 days of continuous absence. The associations argued that Prof. Shukla, Omkar Singh, and Amit Gupta have exhausted all their earned leave.

They cited the Central Civil Services (CCS) Leave Rules, 1972, and the CCS (Conduct, Classification, and Appeal) Rules, 1965, which state that government employees who overstay their leave or remain absent without approval should face disciplinary action and have their pay withheld.

The letter highlighted specific rules under the CCS Leave Rules, including FR 17(1), which states that an officer absent without authorization is not entitled to any pay or allowances. Under FR 17-A, unauthorised absence may be treated as a break in service. Rule 25 states that overstaying leave without approval results in loss of leave salary and possible disciplinary action. The associations stressed that Prof. Shukla’s absence falls under these violations, making him ineligible to receive a salary.

The associations warned that failure to withhold salaries would set a dangerous precedent. They threatened to take similar leave and work remotely under false pretexts if the rules were relaxed for senior officials. They also demanded that NEHU stop all official file movements to Prof. Shukla and prevent him from misusing university guest houses and resources during his leave. They insisted that Prof. Shukla must pay for any personal expenses incurred during his leave, including travel and accommodation costs.

The letter also urged the NEHU administration to strictly follow government rules to avoid disorder on campus. The associations asserted that no government servant, regardless of rank, is above the rules and that failure to act would undermine the university’s integrity.

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