Tezpur: Protests demanding the immediate resignation of Tezpur University Vice-Chancellor Sambhu Nath Singh have intensified following serious allegations of large-scale financial irregularities and misuse of power. Students, faculty, and staff have united in a rare show of solidarity, demanding accountability over alleged corruption and mismanagement within the university.
The controversy centers around the appointment of Ramakrishna Mathe, Director of the Computer Centre, whose one-year contractual term expired on September 7. Despite the expiry, Mathe allegedly continued to function as Director without valid extension documents. Protestors claim he retained all keys to the centre and blocked student email IDs, sparking widespread outrage and concerns over data privacy and research security.
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According to protestors, the Vice-Chancellor had appointed Mathe last year on a contractual salary of ₹2 lakh per month — a position that was previously held as an unpaid, additional responsibility by a senior professor. Teachers and students allege that this appointment was made in violation of university norms and lacked transparency.
Tensions escalated on Tuesday when protestors met Acting Registrar Pritam Dey to question Mathe’s continued presence. They allege that Dey expressed ignorance about any contract renewal, while Mathe later produced a WhatsApp screenshot purportedly showing informal approval from VC Singh as “proof” of his extension.
Following heated exchanges, students and faculty demanded that Mathe vacate the Computer Centre immediately. His office was locked, and a complaint was lodged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — including 319, 318, 329, 65, 66, and 66D — citing criminal intimidation, forgery, and misuse of digital access.
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Adding to the unrest are accusations that Vice-Chancellor Singh had installed audio-visual CCTV cameras in non-academic areas, including staff lunch spaces, further fueling privacy concerns.
A Joint Coordination Committee comprising students, faculty, and staff has now been formed, vowing to continue protests until Vice-Chancellor Sambhu Nath Singh is removed from office and a formal inquiry is initiated into the allegations.
