Tezpur University in paralysis: Student's hint on Delhi showdown if MoE fails to take action against VC

In a dramatic escalation of one of Assam's most severe academic crises, students from Tezpur University convened a high-stakes convention in Dispur on December 19, signaling their readiness to march on New Delhi if longstanding grievances against the university's absent Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh, remain unaddressed. The gathering, attended by student leaders, advocates, civil society figures, and prominent regional politicians, underscored a unified front demanding immediate central intervention to rescue the prestigious Central University from administrative collapse. With classes halted for nearly three months, effigies burned, and key officials resigning in protest, the unrest—rooted in allegations of recruitment scams, financial irregularities, and chronic absenteeism—has transformed Tezpur University into a symbol of institutional failure.

The Dispur convention marked a pivotal shift from campus-bound protests to a national appeal. Student representatives vowed to pursue "democratic and constitutional means" to engage Union authorities, explicitly warning of escalation to the capital if resolutions aren't time-bound. Advocates urged legal recourse and global unity among Tezpur alumni, while speakers like Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) President Lurinjyoti Gogoi lambasted the 90-day impasse, demanding Prof. Singh's suspension and a high-level probe. "Tezpur University is a product of the Assam Movement, forged in the blood of 850 martyrs," Gogoi declared, emphasizing the need to safeguard its legacy amid stalled academics due to the leadership vacuum.

Asom Chatra Parishad (ACP) President Trinayan Baruah framed the turmoil as "sensitive and emotionally charged" for Assam, revealing prior outreach to Union Education Minister via MP Birendra Prasad Baishya for Singh's ouster and an inquiry committee. All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leaders Nitul Borah and Nayan Jyoti Gogoi, alongside SFI and NSUI's Mohsin Khan, rallied support, stressing dialogue over disruption. Students clarified their goal: not chaos, but a "stable, secure academic environment" to resume classes.

Tezpur University's descent began subtly but accelerated into open revolt. Established post the 1985 Assam Accord as a beacon of regional aspirations, the Central University has been leaderless since Prof. Singh's abrupt departure from campus on September 22 —sparked by a confrontation over the institution's perceived insensitivity to beloved Assamese singer Zubeen Garg's death. Students demanded a condolence event during state mourning; Singh allegedly brushed them off with, "Don’t make things funny," before fleeing, as witnesses described. The Sonitpur District Magistrate launched a probe, terming his actions an "insult" that fueled volatility.

Prof. Singh's tenure, starting April 4, 2023, was marred from the outset by his controversial past—removed as Patna University VC in 2012 amid clouded allegations. Early scandals included the August 2023 Education Department hiring, where ineligible candidate Akhilesh Kumar was allegedly shoehorned into a shortlist on Singh's pressure, despite failing UGC norms, and swiftly elevated to Director of the Centre for Open and Distance Learning. A September 2023 Hindi Department case saw Goma Devi Sharma, previously rejected, added illicitly with threats to the department head: "If you object, you won’t stay in the university." Stronger candidates were sidelined; dissenters faced harassment.

Absences compounded the chaos: 51 official trips totaling 388 days away between April 2023 and September 2025—over half his term—left the university in "administrative paralysis" without a Pro-VC or interim setup. Financial red flags emerged in FY 2024-25: Rs 4.5 crore of a Rs 6.5 crore UGC grant funneled to Delhi vendors sans tenders, violating rules; shoddy HEFA-funded hostels cracking prematurely; and high-salary posts for favorites amid unfilled academic roles.

Post-Zubeen fallout, resignations cascaded: PRO Samaresh Barman on September 23, Acting Registrar Pritam Deb on October 16. TUTA's memorandum to Assam's Governor and CM listed procurement fraud, contract favoritism, and infrastructure failures. Protests peaked with effigy burnings on October 8 and November 28, FIRs against aides like Computer Centre Director Ramakrishna Mathe for unauthorized access, and a November 27 campus lockdown by the newly formed Tezpur University United Forum (TUUF). Demands: suspend Singh, summon the Finance Officer and Executive Engineer, and Ministry action.

Despite Union probes—a three-member panel led by IIT Guwahati's Prof. Devendra Jalihal in October and a Ministry team—reports remain unpublished. Singh's recent sighting at Banaras Hindu University's "Vikshit Bharat 2047" conference underscores his external engagements amid campus stasis. TUUF met Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi on November 25, securing vague "2-3 day" assurances unmet. Assam Assembly opposition staged a walkout on November 30, decrying the Centre's inaction on this national asset.

As of December 19, the campus remains in boil. Academic and administrative activities might remain defunct, the voice raised by the student fraternity continue to raise the same voice - Is anyone listening? Why is Delhi maintaining a silence on a funded Central University? The Dispur convention's Delhi threat amplifies calls for accountability, lest Tezpur's crisis metastasize further, eroding public trust in higher education oversight.