Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged the Union Ministry of Education to take urgent steps to resolve the prolonged crisis at Tezpur University, which has remained shut for more than 75 days amid growing administrative unrest.
In a post shared on X on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said he had spoken to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and requested immediate appointment of a Pro-Vice Chancellor to take temporary charge. Sarma said the interim leadership was necessary to restore stability while an impartial inquiry examines the allegations made against the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Neelima Gupta. He expressed optimism that a timely intervention would help bring the campus back to normal functioning.
The situation at the central university has steadily deteriorated, with students, staff and faculty accusing Prof. Gupta of corruption, financial mismanagement and irregular recruitment practices. Protesters have alleged suspected financial misuse amounting to more than ₹14 crore, adding to the already tense atmosphere. The prolonged shutdown has disrupted academic schedules and raised fears about long-term institutional damage.
The matter has also drawn political attention. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing the situation as a “deep institutional crisis.” In his letter, he pointed out that faculty shortages, declining NIRF rankings and halted academic proceedings were severely affecting the university’s primary mandate under the Assam Accord—to serve as a premier institution offering high-quality higher education.
Both the Assam Governor and the Ministry of Education have completed fact-finding reviews, but no concrete administrative decision has been made public so far. With the stalemate stretching well over two months, students and teachers are now anxiously waiting for swift action from the Centre to ensure the institution’s reputation and academic momentum are not further compromised.
As calls for resolution grow louder, the university community hopes the appointment of a Pro-VC will mark the beginning of restoring order on campus and resuming academic activities without further delay.
