Embattled NEHU vice-chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla has extended his leave till December 13 because of the “ongoing” investigation conducted by an education ministry-constituted committee into charges of administrative failure against the varsity even as protesting students were in favour of resuming classes
from Tuesday.

Shukla has been on leave since November 15 and was scheduled to resume duty on Monday. Sources said that he extended his leave because he thought it would not be appropriate for him to join duty after the education ministry granted a 15-day extension to the two-member inquiry committee from November 28.

The committee is looking into charges of mismanagement and administrative lapses at NEHU under his watch. Shukla went on leave on November 15.

Another reason for Shukla not rejoining duty was the anti-VC mood on campus. Students were firm on their stand of not letting him resume duty.

A student said that the VC knows it will be difficult for him to rejoin because students, faculty, staffers, civil society organisations and student organisations do not want him back.

The protesting students on Monday scaled down their daylong protest to a daily two-hour sit-in dharna till Shukla was removed.

The students had started with an indefinite hunger strike seeking the removal of the registrar and the deputy registrar and the resignation of Shukla on November 6. The indefinite fast ended after sixteen days as health conditions of the protesting students started deteriorating but they continued with their daily sit-in.