Deadlock in Assam University, doors of VC, Registrar, Jt. Registrar, Finance Officer locked since 4 days

January 14: Leveling serious allegation of corruption and ill-behaviour against an Assistant Registrar, the Assam University Students’ Union (AUSU) and Assam University Research Scholars Forum (AURSF) have locked the doors of the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Joint Registrar (Admn) and Finance Officer in-charge since the last four days. Milon Das, President of AURSF and Biswarup Bhattacharjee, President of AUSU have categorically stated that until an impartial enquiry is done, they will not unlock the doors.

Dilip Chandra Nath, Vice Chancellor of Assam University, Silchar is at present out of station. Registrar in-charge and Finance Officer in-charge are now discharging their duties from other rooms. As a result, the day-to-day functioning of the varsity is hampered. On Saturday, Dr. Prodosh Kiran Nath, Registrar in-charge notified in a strict mode that if the doors are not unlocked on Monday than the university authorities will be bound to take strict action.

However, on Monday, instead of taking any stern action, Registrar in-charge, P.K. Nath issued a general notification wherein he urged upon the concerned students to unlock the doors and allow normal functioning of the university. In the notification issued on Monday, Dr.P.K. Nath stated, “The lock of the doors of chamber of Vice-Chancellor, Registrar. Finance Officer and Joint Registrar (Admn.) has not been opened yet by concerned students after repeated appeal and direction. This has badly affected the normal work of the University. Huge files are under lock in those chambers for which various matters relating to attending of Refresher/Orientation Course and other Academic Programmes of teachers, Leave matters, Medical advance/reimbursement of employees. scholarship, fellowship and Study tour matter of students etc are pending.”

The Registrar in-charge further stated that, “The University is also not able to provide response to queries by Ministry on various issues which are of urgent nature due to such unlawful locking of office Further, the University is not in a position to comply with direction of the UGC as per Revised Budget Meeting which may result in cut of grants affecting overall developmental activities due to ongoing situation Therefore, it is information for all that immediate unlocking of doors is a must for ensuing timely response on various issues and accordingly the same be noted by all concerned.”

On the other hand, expressing his views, Assistant Registrar, Pinakpani Nath Purkayastha said that he was unnecessarily being harassed. Assam University Non-Teaching Employees Association (AUNTEA) has crticised the action of a section of the students- research scholars and have resolved to stand beside Pinakpani Nath Purkayastha. In the midst of this deadlock, even the academic atmosphere of the university has come to a standstill. However, Assam University Teachers’ Association (AUTA) has not yet given any comment on this deadlock.