Tezpur University lien row drags on as key respondent moves to Sikkim, court yet to decide

A long-running service dispute at Tezpur University remains unresolved, with the Gauhati High Court yet to issue an order on a writ petition concerning the lien rights of senior administrative officer Dr Upakul Sarmah. The delay comes as one of the respondents in the case, Dr Braja Bandhu Mishra, has taken up a fresh assignment outside the university, adding further scrutiny to an already fraught situation.

The petition — WP(C) No. 6620/2024 — contests decisions affecting Sarmah’s lien after he moved to the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati, on deputation. Although hearings have been held for more than a year across multiple benches, the case remains officially “pending” on the High Court’s website as of December 7.

A notable element in the proceedings is the continued listing of Dr Mishra, formerly Tezpur University’s Finance Officer, as Respondent No. 5. Media reports indicate he has recently taken charge as Officer on Special Duty to the Vice-Chancellor at Sikkim University, raising questions about administrative accountability at his previous institution.

Mishra’s exit from Tezpur University came during a period marked by campus unrest, allegations of financial irregularities, and an extended leadership vacuum — developments that placed the university under sustained public attention.

Sarmah, who previously served in multiple administrative roles at Tezpur University, joined TISS Guwahati as Deputy Registrar on deputation. The university’s Board of Management is understood to have approved an extension of his lien in October 2023, allowing him the right to return to his parent institution. However, subsequent administrative actions during a volatile phase on campus reportedly complicated the enforcement of that decision, prompting Sarmah to seek judicial intervention to protect his service status and seniority.

Court records show that the matter was listed on several dates, including September 3, September 24, October 30 and December 2, without a final judgment being delivered. The case did not appear in the December 7 cause list.

Lawyers for the petitioner, the university, and respondents — including Union government representatives — have continued attending hearings even as the proceedings stretch on without resolution.

The legal dispute now sits at the intersection of broader governance concerns at Tezpur University, where financial decision-making, procurement practices, HEFA-funded projects and leadership issues have attracted criticism from students, faculty and staff. Mishra’s move to Sikkim University has further fuelled interest, given the unsettled questions surrounding his tenure in Tezpur.

Until the High Court issues a ruling, it remains unclear whether Sarmah’s lien was legally secure and whether later administrative decisions may have adversely affected his career prospects.

What began as a routine service matter has evolved into a case that reflects the wider struggle for transparency and accountability in a Central university undergoing a turbulent period. The eventual judgment is expected to carry repercussions extending beyond the individual petitioner, touching on governance standards across higher education institutions in the Northeast.