Ministry signals inquiry into Tezpur University VC; Dhruba Bhattacharyya takes interim charge

Guwahati: Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya, the senior-most professor at Tezpur University, has officially taken charge as the Acting Vice Chancellor, effective from the afternoon of December 4, 2025.

The appointment comes amid prolonged absence of Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh and concerns over the non-functioning of the Vice Chancellor’s office during a period of heightened unrest on campus.

According to a statement issued by the University’s Public Relations Office, the decision was taken to restore administrative normalcy and ensure smooth functioning of the institution.

Bhattacharyya’s appointment is in accordance with Statute 2(6) of the Second Schedule of the Tezpur University Act, 1993 — a provision also cited by the Minister of State for Education in response to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha on December 1, 2025.

Following the assumption of charge, the University acknowledged receiving an officially minuted communication from Saumya Gupta, Joint Secretary at the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.

The communication, addressed to the Registrar and emailed after her meetings with students, faculty, and non-teaching staff on December 7 at the Tezpur University campus, documented several concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the governance style of Singh.

In her note, the Joint Secretary stated that the Department of Higher Education would initiate a “strict and time-bound inquiry” into the allegations against Singh.

Importantly, it was also recorded that Singh would not administer the University while the inquiry is underway. The communication further clarified that, until further orders, the status quo would remain in place — meaning Bhattacharyya will continue to serve as the Acting Vice Chancellor.

The University administration said it is committed to stabilizing campus operations and addressing concerns raised by various sections of the university community.

The university witnessed high drama from Saturday afternoon until early Sunday, when a high-level delegation from the Union Ministry of Education—led by Secretary Vineet Joshi—was unable to leave the campus around midnight. The team remained stuck in their vehicles for more than three hours.

They were finally allowed to exit after Joint Secretary Saumya Gupta, who was part of the delegation, provided a written assurance on a blank sheet of paper.

Students, teachers, and non-teaching staff, united under the Tezpur University United Forum (TUUF), have been protesting against the embattled Vice Chancellor since mid-September, alleging corruption and other irregularities. They have demanded his removal and a formal inquiry into his actions.

Since November 29, students at the central university have imposed a “complete shutdown” of all campus activities, including academic work, forcing the administration to cancel all end-term examinations.

Tensions had already been simmering on campus since mid-September, when students accused the Vice Chancellor and university authorities of failing to show proper respect to cultural icon Zubeen Garg during the state’s mourning period following his death.