The protracted 76-day crisis at Tezpur University has intensified following a sharp rejection by the university fraternity of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s latest public remarks. The university community, which includes students, staff, and various protesting groups, firmly asserted that the Chief Minister has “completely misunderstood” the fundamental demands driving the prolonged agitation. This rebuttal came after the Chief Minister publicly suggested the appointment of a Pro-Vice Chancellor to stabilize the central institution.
Countering this specific proposal, the Tezpur University community reiterated its core demand: the urgent appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor, clarifying that the movement has never sought a Pro-Vice Chancellor. The fraternity simultaneously voiced deep resentment regarding what it described as the Chief Minister’s protracted silence throughout the crisis. They highlighted that despite weeks of protests, formal appeals, and a profound administrative breakdown, the Chief Minister chose to intervene only after the controversy garnered national attention, sparking questions over whether his eventual action was driven by political necessity rather than a sense of responsibility.
The protesting groups unequivocally stated that their demands remain non-negotiable and “unchanged.” These demands include the immediate suspension of the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Neelima Gupta, pending an enquiry, the appointment of an Acting VC—specifically not a Pro-VC—and the publication of all inquiry reports that have already been submitted to the relevant authorities. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Sarma had posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to accelerate the appointment of a Pro-Vice Chancellor to stabilize academic functions while the enquiry into Prof. Gupta proceeded, expressing confidence that Central intervention would soon resolve the crisis.
Amid this escalating standoff, the university remains shut, a closure that has lasted for more than 75 days. The shutdown is fueled by widespread and escalating allegations of significant administrative misconduct, recruitment violations, and corruption, with financial irregularities reportedly exceeding ₹14 crore against the incumbent Vice Chancellor. The prolonged closure continues to breed uncertainty among the institution’s students and staff, as the situation shows no sign of a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, in a parallel political development, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi sharply criticized the Chief Minister’s handling of the crisis, accusing him of protecting the controversial Vice Chancellor rather than supporting the faculty, staff, and students. In a strongly worded statement, Gogoi expressed his “disappointment” with the Chief Minister’s proposal on the 76-day agitation that has crippled the central university’s academic operations. He argued that “Real leadership would have meant that the Chief Minister stood with the faculty, staff and students of this prestigious university,” adding that Sarma was merely “masking the failures of the current Vice Chancellor” by suggesting a Pro-Vice Chancellor appointment. Gogoi also brought attention to the controversial track record of a different individual, Vice Chancellor Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh, noting that issues regarding financial irregularities had surfaced during his previous tenure as Vice Chancellor of Patna University in Bihar, where enquiries were lodged from the office of the Principal Accountant General. Calling for immediate corrective measures, Gogoi stressed that the reputation and dignity of Tezpur University must be prioritized over any political considerations, asserting, “It would be best that the prestige of Tezpur University be paramount and a new Vice Chancellor be appointed. Stop using the universities of the Northeast for posting controversial VCs.”
