Tezpur University students have declared a continued campus shutdown, vowing to maintain their protest until receiving formal confirmation of Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh’s removal. This resolve follows a tense weekend encounter with a Union Ministry of Education (MoE) delegation, which departed only after providing a written assurance of an inquiry into the Vice Chancellor.
The MoE delegation, comprising Secretary Vineet Joshi, Joint Secretary Saumya Gupta, and Joint Secretary Armstrong Pame, arrived at the Tezpur campus on Saturday afternoon. Intended to meet with agitators, the team was later blocked from leaving the premises late Saturday night by protesting students, teachers, and non-teaching staff. The delegation’s vehicles remained stuck for over three hours.
Early Sunday morning, the high-level team secured their exit after Joint Secretary Saumya Gupta issued a handwritten assurance. This document, accessed by PTI, confirmed that VC Singh would not administer the central university during a “strict and time-bound inquiry” into the allegations against him. The assurance also noted that the Department of Higher Education was committed to this inquiry and that a joint meeting with agitators had highlighted “multiple issues” with the VC’s governance style.
Sustained Protests and Campus Shutdown
The Tezpur University United Forum (TUUF), a joint platform of students, faculty, and non-teaching staff, has led continuous protests since mid-September . Their demands center on the immediate removal of Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh and a thorough investigation into alleged corruption and irregularities during his tenure.
TUUF leaders expressed dissatisfaction that 79 consecutive days of peaceful protests had not resulted in concrete action or a formal resolution. “The students, faculty, and non-teaching staff are going for a complete non-compliance and non-cooperation until a concrete agreement is officially received,” a TUUF statement read.
A “complete shutdown” of all university operations, including academic activities, has been in effect since November 29 . This indefinite campus closure led the administration to cancel all end-of-term examinations, significantly impacting the academic calendar.
University Leadership and Administration
Amid the unrest and following the MoE’s intervention, Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya, the senior-most faculty member, has assumed the role of acting Vice Chancellor. This development confirms that Mass Communication Professor Joya Chakraborty, previously named Pro-VC by Singh, will not take charge. Registrar in-charge Chandan Goswami confirmed these administrative adjustments.
Police reinforcements were deployed outside the university gate on Saturday evening as protesters chanted slogans against the Vice Chancellor. Hundreds of agitating women sat on the main road, blocking the entrance to prevent police contingents from entering the campus to clear a path for the trapped MoE team.
Allegations and Future Steps
Allegations against Vice Chancellor Singh include corruption, widespread irregularities, and an uncooperative governance approach. Earlier tensions, dating back to mid-September, stemmed from accusations that the VC showed disrespect to cultural icon Zubeen Garg, which intensified student dissent.
MoE Secretary Vineet Joshi stated that the ministry is processing all information, noting that two fact-finding inquiries had already been conducted. Joshi assured that appropriate action would be taken in the university’s best interest. TUUF, while acknowledging the informal assurance, emphasized that protests will persist until an official, formal notification and concrete action for VC Singh’s removal are implemented.