Storm Brews at Sikkim University
Barely days after student unrest shook Tezpur University over allegations of corruption and financial irregularities; a fresh controversy is now simmering at Sikkim University. At the centre of both storms is the same individual, Braja Bandhu Mishra, the former Finance Officer of Tezpur University, whose sudden appointment in Sikkim University has raised serious concerns over transparency and careful examination.
Mishra, who stepped down from his post at Tezpur University on December 1 following intense student protests, has quietly assumed a new role as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Vice Chancellor of Sikim University. His swift transition, even as allegations and campus tensions in Tezpur continue to unfold, has triggered widespread questions about the integrity of recruitment processes in central universities.
The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) has voiced strong objections, calling the appointment “deeply alarming” and claiming that Mishra secured the sensitive post without meaningful scrutiny. The party pointed out that Mishra had reportedly been absent from his official duties in Tezpur University for over two months during a period of escalating protests and accusations. Yet, within the same time frame, he was able to apply for, interview, and receive unanimous approval for a senior administrative role in Sikim University.
According to the SDF, the “speed and silence” surrounding this appointment undermines public trust in the university’s administrative mechanisms. The party has demanded that the Sikim University Executive Council reveal how the verification process was conducted, why no background checks were initiated, and what prompted such unusual haste in clearing the appointment of a figure already under scrutiny elsewhere.
The SDF has also urged Tezpur University to make public the current status of investigations related to the allegations raised by students, arguing that quiet transfers and unclear decisions merely weaken institutional accountability.
Education observers warn that the incident exposes a troubling loophole in the higher education system, one that allows individuals under controversy to move unabated from one institution to another without transparent checks.
As calls for clarity grow louder, the SDF has demanded an immediate review of Mishra’s appointment, full disclosure of the vetting process, and an official statement from the authorities concerned.
For now, the developments have sparked unease among students and faculty in Sikkim University, raising fears that the turmoil that engulfed Tezpur University may be on the verge of repeating itself in the eastern Himalayan state.
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