NEHUSU asks VC to stop HASA row

SHILLONG, Dec 18: The North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) today asked Vice Chancellor (VC) Pramod Tandon to ‘temporarily revoke’ the order on slashing Hills Area Special Allowance (HASA) package for the sake of stability in the university.

Stating that the students had nothing to gain or lose from HASA, the students’ union said the disruption of the ongoing examination due to the strike had affected the student community. They were caught in a dilemma and confusion on the ongoing agitation called by the Joint Action Committee of the NEHU Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) and NEHU Non-Teaching Staff Association (NEHUNSA), it said.

In a letter to the VC today, the students’ union observed that since the payment of HASA was in accordance with the NEHU ordinance, its slashing required amendment of Ordinance OE-10. “The VC should have followed the laid down norms which state that the Executive Council (EC) cannot make any amendments without the consent/approval of the Academic Council (AC) of NEHU,” the NEHUSU said.

Pointing out that the university had committed a “grave mistake” by violating Ordinance OE-10, the students said that the unilateral decision of the EC was a clear violation of NEHU Act 1973. The decision is also wrongly timed due to the ongoing examination, the students added. While urging the VC to convene an emergency meeting of the NEHU EC to temporarily revoke the order, the NEHUSU also called upon the JAC to reconsider the decision pertaining to students’ related matters like study tours, release of fellowships as the current examination is important. Pointing out that stability was the need of the hour, the NEHUSU said, “Should the NEHU EC remain adamant to our request, the union would be forced to say that the VC, as the head of NEHU, would have to shoulder the responsibility. If the JAC decided to intensify its agitation, the union would not sit idle either.” THE SENTINEL