Assam Congress chief seeks PM’s intervention in Tezpur University unrest

GUWAHATI

Assam Congress president and MP Gaurav Gogoi has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to end a prolonged unrest in Tezpur University, a Central institution shut down indefinitely by its students, forcing the administration to cancel all end term examinations.

The students have been agitating since September 22 against the university’s Vice Chancellor, Shambhu Nath Singh, for alleged financial irregularities, mismanagement and lack of accountability. They shut down all services on the campus, including academic activities, from November 29.

The associations of the university’s teachers and non teaching employees have extended their support to the student led agitation under the Tezpur University United Forum.

In a letter to the Prime Minister made public on Tuesday (December 2, 2025), Mr. Gogoi underscored the “widespread dissatisfaction” among the students and faculty members of the university. He said the situation on the campus escalated after Prof. Singh’s alleged insensitive remarks on Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg and the university’s failure to observe the State mourning period.

The Sonitpur district administration subsequently conducted a magisterial inquiry into the campus unrest.

“The Tezpur University Teachers’ Association has reported several pressing issues, including administrative negligence, with the Vice Chancellor frequently [remaining] absent from campus without formal delegation of authority, leading to delays and administrative paralysis,” Mr. Gogoi wrote.

“Academic decline”

He stated that the university’s academic performance declined sharply, reflected in a significant drop in National Institutional Ranking Framework rankings due to shortages of teachers, stalled recruitments and inadequate research support.

“There are also allegations of financial and procurement irregularities, such as unauthorised use of university property, excessive travel expenditure, procurement without tendering and engagement of agencies lacking transparency. Appointments and extensions have reportedly been made in violation of the Tezpur University Act and Statutes, including the tenure of the Finance Officer and the ad hoc creation of contractual positions,” Mr. Gogoi urged the Prime Minister.

He highlighted that concerns had also been raised about the quality of newly constructed infrastructure, with hostels and academic buildings already showing structural defects, suggesting lapses in supervision and quality control.

“Tezpur University has long been a premier centre of learning in the Northeast, and its current decline underscores the need for immediate intervention to restore academic standards and institutional integrity. I seek your urgent attention to the issues outlined above and respectfully urge that necessary measures be undertaken to address the challenges confronting the university,” Mr. Gogoi further wrote.