[ Amar Sangno ]
ITANAGAR, Jan 16: In a major blow to the Students Union of NERIST’s (SUN) movement seeking appointment of a regular director at the North East Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has extended the charge of Rajiv Gandhi University Vice Chancellor, Prof Tamo Mibang, as the NERIST director in-charge till March 2018.
The SUN has been demanding appointment of a regular director at the premier technical institute since 2013. Prof Mibang reportedly refused the extension of charge and wrote to the MHRD for early release – but the ministry nevertheless entrusted him with the charge till the end of March 2018.
Prof Mibang has been in charge of the NERIST since February 2017. His assumption as the director in charge of the NERIST was marked by sporadic protests spearhead by the SUN in April 2017. The SUN forced the institute to shut down for a couple of days, demanding a regular director. The union claimed that the MHRD’s indifferent attitude towards the NERIST has led to the regress and deterioration of the institute on all fronts.
Reportedly, the NERIST has slipped below hundred in the MHRD’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
Unconfirmed sources informed that Prof BV Ramana Reddy of the University School of Information Communication and Technology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi was selected for the coveted post, and was supposed to join by 28 December, 2017.
However, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju clarified that the selection process has been delayed due to an internal complaint lodged by fellow faculties.
“The selection process is delayed by the internal complains being lodged. But I am requesting for early clearance of the process,” said Rijiju.
He divulged that the file is with the MHRD and the selection process is yet to be over.
“The selection process is not over yet. I have requested the committee and the MHRD to speed up. The PMO may approve the files soon,” Rijiju added.
Interestingly, it is not known who lodged the complaint, and what its basis was.
It is said that during his visit to the NERIST last November, the MoS had assured that appointment of a regular director would be done within a month.
This daily learnt that altogether nine panelists across the India were up for the post of the NERIST director, including two senior professors from the NERIST – Prof Binay Singh of Forestry department, and Prof HS Yadav of Chemistry department.
Prof Yadav, who has already served as the director in-charge, somehow managed a berth among the top three panelists, along with Prof Reddy.
The SUN alleged that the MHRD’s dilly-dallying over the appointment of a regular director is exposed.
“Why is the MHRD delaying the selection process since we have been demanding a regular director since last four years?” questioned SUN President Banta Natung.
Natung blamed internal politics amongst the faculties’ members as the reason for the deteriorating performance of the NERIST.
“The MHRD should take the responsibility for the slipping down of the NERIST in the NIRF ranking,” Natung added. He alleged that the whole process of the NERIST director’s appointment is being politicized.
“The research scholars pay no interest as there is no pattern in teaching and the faculty,” Natung added, and alleged that the institute is being messed up by internal politics.
The SUN had placed a verbal representation to Rijiju for early appointment of a regular director, and it also opposed the appointment of any faculty from the NERIST as regular director, considering past experiences.
Unconfirmed sources also informed that the MHRD is looking for a faculty member with an RSS background to fill up the post.
