Tezpur University crisis deepens as protests escalate despite Centre’s assurance

Guwahati: Students, teachers, and staff of Tezpur University, united under the Tezpur University United Forum (TUUF), announced a complete “non-compliance and non-cooperation” movement in Tezpur on Sunday, rejecting the Centre’s verbal assurance and demanding a formal, written notification removing Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh, whose prolonged absence and alleged mismanagement triggered the ongoing protests.

TUUF declared that protests will continue indefinitely until the Ministry of Education (MoE) issues an official order initiating action against the VC.

In a firm statement, TUUF said:
"The students view this as only a preliminary step. The protest will continue until a formal notification is issued and concrete action follows."

The protests began amid the state-wide grief over legendary singer Zubeen Garg’s sudden death on 19 September 2025 and have now escalated into a significant administrative issue at Tezpur University.

The demonstration demanding the removal of Vice Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh, who has remained absent from campus for 79 days, has reached a critical turning point.

The university community alleges corruption, administrative breakdown, and irresponsible conduct on the VC’s part, with accusations intensifying after his controversial handling of a condolence programme for the late Zubeen Garg.

A delegation led by Saumya Gupta, Joint Secretary, Higher Education (MoE), visited the campus amid rising tension on Saturday.

According to students, the team was held inside the campus for over three hours until they provided a written assurance promising an inquiry and directing that Singh be kept away from administrative work.

Despite this assurance, TUUF maintains that only the formal removal of the VC will restore confidence.

Agitated students declared the university “shut down indefinitely” on 29 November. Gates were locked, departments closed, and academic operations frozen as protestors demanded Singh’s immediate ouster.

Singh, still absent from campus, chaired the University Governing Body meeting online from New Delhi on 4 December.

He announced Professor Joya Chakraborty (Mass Communication) as Pro-Vice Chancellor.

However, according to student representatives, Chakraborty declined the appointment, deepening the administrative vacuum.

Amid the escalating crisis, Professor Dhruba Kumar Bhattacharyya, a senior faculty in the Computer Science & Engineering Department, assumed charge as Acting Vice Chancellor by invoking provisions of the Tezpur University Act.

The university officially confirmed his appointment on Sunday and urged students to restore normalcy, pointing to the Centre’s promise of a time-bound inquiry.

Despite the MoE’s assurances and the appointment of a new acting VC, the campus community has stated that normal academic activities will not resume until the Centre issues a formal directive regarding Shambhu Nath Singh.

With classes halted and administration temporarily disrupted, Tezpur University is currently facing a significant governance challenge.