The Union Ministry of Education has set up a high-powered enquiry committee to look into the ongoing situation at Tezpur University and allegations linked to its Vice-Chancellor, Shambhu Nath Singh. Pending the outcome of the investigation, the Vice-Chancellor has been directed to recuse himself from all official responsibilities and proceed on leave with immediate effect.
An office memorandum issued by the Department of Higher Education on December 31, 2025, stated that the committee has been constituted under Section 9 of the Tezpur University Act, 1993, exercising the powers of the Visitor of the University. The three-member panel is chaired by N. Lokendra Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University. Other members include Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, and Manish R. Joshi, Secretary of the University Grants Commission. The committee has also been given the authority to co-opt additional experts if required.
According to the memorandum, the panel’s mandate includes a detailed examination of the findings and recommendations of the Fact-Finding Committee report submitted by the Office of the Chancellor of Tezpur University. It will also review the circumstances that led to the present situation on campus, including resignations and changes in charge among university functionaries. The committee has been asked to visit the campus, interact with all stakeholders, scrutinize relevant records and communications, and examine any other matter it considers pertinent.
The committee has been instructed to submit its report at the earliest, with a maximum time limit of three months from the date of issuance of the order. The University Grants Commission will provide secretarial support, while the university authorities have been directed to extend full cooperation and make all required documents available.
In a separate communication issued on the same day, the Ministry of Education announced that Amrendra Kumar Das, from the Department of Design at IIT Guwahati, has been appointed as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University until further orders. The appointment will be governed by the provisions of the university’s Act, Statutes, and Ordinances.
The developments come amid growing concern over governance and administrative issues at one of the Northeast’s premier central universities, with the enquiry expected to play a decisive role in shaping the institution’s future course.
