ITANAGAR, June 3: The North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) has reported that its Director resigned after facing sustained pressure from external student organisations and the NERIST Faculty Association (NFA) over administrative decisions concerning the transfer and posting of assistant registrars.
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| The administrative block of the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh. The institute has come under the spotlight following the resignation of its Director amid a controversy over staff transfers and suspension orders. |
The development came to light through an official communication dated June 2 addressed to Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung by the institute's Registrar (In-Charge), who outlined the circumstances that allegedly led to the resignation. The communication has also been forwarded to Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) K.T. Parnaik and Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona.
According to the institute, representatives of external student bodies and the NFA repeatedly pressed the Director to transfer certain assistant registrars despite written directions issued by the Ministry of Education. The letter stated that on May 12, a joint delegation met the Director and strongly insisted that the transfers be carried out.
The institute claimed that the discussions continued for several hours and that the delegation allegedly warned of a possible lockout and disruption of examinations scheduled for the following day if the demands were not met. NERIST stated that the Director informed the delegation that the transfers could not be implemented because of instructions received from the Ministry of Education. However, the representatives allegedly maintained that if the transfers were not effected, the Director should relinquish his post.
According to the communication, a minutes-of-meeting document prepared after the discussions was signed by the Director under compulsion. The institute asserted that the Director signed the document solely to safeguard students' academic interests and ensure the smooth conduct of examinations after objections raised by institute officials were reportedly not accepted.
The situation further escalated later in the month when the Ministry of Education directed the institute to place two officials under suspension. NERIST stated that the instructions were received on May 27 and, following directions from the Chairman of the Board of Management, suspension orders were issued on May 29.
However, the institute alleged that later the same day, members of an external student organisation visited the Director's office and demanded that the suspension orders be withdrawn. The communication claimed that the visitors aggressively pursued their demand, creating what it described as a serious and concerning situation within the campus administration.
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"Considering the prevailing circumstances, the Director decided to tender his resignation in the larger interest of the institute," the letter stated. The resignation was reportedly submitted to the Chairman of the Board of Management and the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Education.
NERIST, a centrally funded institution under the Ministry of Education, is one of the premier technical and higher educational institutions in the Northeast. The latest developments have triggered concern among academic and administrative circles, with many viewing the episode as a test of institutional autonomy and governance.
While the institute has presented its account of events, responses from the organisations named in the communication were not immediately available. Stakeholders are now awaiting further clarification and possible action from the Ministry of Education and other concerned authorities as the controversy continues to unfold.
