SHILLONG, JUNE 1: The North-Eastern Hill University Non-teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA) has welcomed the Ministry of Education’s advertisement for the post of Vice Chancellor of NEHU, while urging that the appointment be completed before August 2026 to prevent a leadership vacuum.

In a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Education, NEHUNSA said it appreciates and welcomes the much-awaited advertisement for the post of Vice Chancellor in NEHU, adding that the move was expected much earlier given the ongoing crisis surrounding the University due to the incompetence shown by Professor PS Shukla.

The association alleged that “Prof Shukla voluntarily chose to abandon the University headquarters in Shillong, at the same time trying his level best to interfere remotely from a distant location in the academic and administrative sector.”

NEHUNSA said it has “expressed its full faith in the Ministry of Education that, from this time forward, a Vice Chancellor shall be appointed who is well qualified both in the academic and administrative background in a highly transparent manner.”

“The Association looks forward to the completion of the appointment process at the earliest, preferably before August, 2026, to avoid any leadership vacuum,” the letter said.

The association further stated that the Acts and Statutes of the University should be honoured so that “on the expiry of the tenure of Prof PS Shukla as the Vice Chancellor, the senior-most Professor shall take charge as the acting Vice Chancellor of NEHU.”

“Any attempt to extend the term of Prof PS Shukla shall prove to be detrimental to the overall health of this University,” NEHUNSA said.