The Ministry of Education (MoE) has appointed Amrendra Kumar Das as the new Pro Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University . This decision comes after sustained protests from students and faculty demanding the removal of current Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh . Following the appointment, VC Singh has been directed to proceed on leave immediately, pending a formal inquiry into serious allegations against his administration.
New Leadership and Call for Stability
Amrendra Kumar Das is currently a faculty member in the design department at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati. His appointment to Tezpur University as Pro Vice-Chancellor is effective until further orders from the Ministry of Education.
The appointment follows a direct intervention from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma . Earlier this month, Sarma urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to swiftly appoint a Pro Vice-Chancellor. The Chief Minister’s appeal highlighted the critical need to restore stability and ensure the smooth functioning of the Tezpur University campus, which has been in turmoil.
Vice-Chancellor Directed to Leave Amid Inquiry
VC Shambhu Nath Singh has been instructed to recuse himself from all administrative duties. He will remain on leave until the completion of the formal investigation. A senior MoE official confirmed this directive, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations.
The Ministry of Education has constituted a three-member committee to investigate the various claims against Singh. This committee is mandated to examine all aspects of the alleged irregularities.
Enquiry Committee Members and Timeline
The inquiry panel is tasked with submitting its comprehensive report within a strict maximum timeframe of three months. The committee consists of:
- N Lokendra Singh : Vice-Chancellor, Manipur University (Committee Head)
- Jagadish Kumar Patnaik : Vice-Chancellor, Nagaland University (Member)
- Manish R Joshi : Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC) (Member)
Long-Standing Protests at Tezpur University
Tezpur University, a significant central institution in Assam established in 1994 under the 1985 Assam Accord, has faced continuous internal unrest. Protests demanding VC Singh’s removal began on September 27 last year , marking a prolonged period of agitation involving both students and faculty members.
The campus unrest escalated into sustained protests from mid-September, specifically targeting alleged irregularities under the Vice-Chancellor’s leadership. The student-led agitation reached its 100th day recently, culminating in a 24-hour hunger strike by the protesters, underscoring the depth of dissatisfaction.
Allegations Against VC Shambhu Nath Singh
The core of the protests revolves around serious allegations against VC Shambhu Nath Singh’s administration. Students and faculty accuse him of widespread financial irregularities. Furthermore, they cite instances of alleged ecological damage occurring during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor.
A key point of contention arose when students accused university authorities of disrespecting Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg during a period of public mourning. This incident further fueled the anger on campus. Tensions reached a peak on September 22 , when a heated public exchange occurred between VC Singh and protesting students, nearly forcing him to leave the scene. Following this incident, Singh reportedly abstained from being present on campus.
The prolonged period of instability and discontent has also led to a significant exodus of staff. At least 11 faculty members and senior officials have either resigned from their positions or left Tezpur University since the protests commenced in September of last year, indicating a broader crisis within the institution.