The call to boycott the 25th Convocation by the North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) on November 28, 2018, has led to denying the association an annual grant for two years by the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) authority.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, NEHU said the NEHUTA’s annual grant for the year 2018-19 and 2019-20 was withheld because the teachers’ body had given a boycott call to the 25th Convocation held on November 28, 2018, when the Meghalaya Governor and chief minister were the chief guest and guest of honour respectively and the convocation ceremony was meant for graduate students.
“The NEHUTA has not submitted the list of members who had given the boycott call, despite several reminders which is required by the University authorities before any decision can be taken regarding the annual grant keeping in view NEHU Statutes/rules,” the statement said.
“NEHUTA being an Employees’ Association established under the Statute 44 of the NEHU Acts & Statutes, has violated the Statute 44 (3) by giving the convocation boycott call,” it added.
The statement also said the NEHU Ordinance OC-10 on convocation procedure has been violated by the Teachers’ Association as the Academic Council members are required to be present and walk-in procession during the convocation.
From the above, it is evident that the NEHUTA has been indulging in activities which have deeply hurt the image of a premier institution like NEHU and in complete violation of NEHU Statute 44 (3) that states that “No association shall act in any manner whatsoever which may bring down the image of the University and which may be detrimental to the achievements of the objectives of the University laid down under the North-Eastern Hill University Act, 1973,” the statement alleged.
“The NEHU Acts and Statutes also provide for de-recognition of Association if they act in any manner whatsoever which may bring down the image of the University,” the statement added.