A prolonged service dispute involving Tezpur University senior administrative officer Dr Upakul Sarmah remains unresolved, with the Gauhati High Court still to deliver its judgment on a writ petition concerning his lien rights. The matter has lingered for more than a year, even as one of the respondents, former Finance Officer Dr Braja Bandhu Mishra, has taken up a new assignment outside the institution.
The petition, filed under WP(C) No. 6620/2024, challenges administrative decisions affecting Sarmah’s lien after he proceeded on deputation to the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati. Despite multiple hearings before different benches, the case continues to be listed as “pending” on the court’s official website as of December 7.
The proceedings have drawn further attention after reports confirmed that Dr Mishra — named as Respondent No. 5 — recently assumed charge as Officer on Special Duty to the Vice-Chancellor at Sikkim University. His departure from Tezpur University took place during a turbulent phase marked by allegations of financial irregularities, campus unrest and a prolonged leadership vacuum, issues that had already placed the institution under public scrutiny.
Dr Sarmah, who previously held several key administrative posts at Tezpur University, joined TISS Guwahati as Deputy Registrar on deputation. The university’s Board of Management had approved an extension of his lien in October 2023, enabling him to return to his parent institution. However, subsequent administrative developments during a volatile period reportedly complicated the implementation of that decision, prompting him to approach the High Court to safeguard his service rights and seniority.
Court records show that the matter came up on several dates — including September 3, September 24, October 30 and December 2 — without a final ruling. The case was not listed for hearing on December 7. Lawyers representing the petitioner, the university, the Union government and other respondents have continued attending hearings as the matter drags on without resolution.
The dispute has become intertwined with wider governance concerns at Tezpur University, where questions over procurement decisions, HEFA-funded projects and administrative functioning have fuelled discontent among students, faculty and staff. Mishra’s shift to Sikkim University has added to public interest, given the unresolved issues relating to his earlier role.
With the High Court yet to pronounce its judgment, uncertainty persists over the validity of Sarmah’s lien and whether subsequent administrative actions may have affected his career progression. What began as a routine service matter has evolved into a case emblematic of the broader challenges confronting a central university navigating a period of upheaval. The eventual verdict is expected to carry implications for institutional accountability across higher education bodies in the Northeast.
