Embattled North Eastern Hill University (Nehu) vice-chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla extended his earned leave till December 29 “due to unforeseen circumstances” amid students’ daily protests seeking his removal.

This is the second extension sought by Shukla following the protest by students seeking his removal for alleged mismanagement and administrative lapses at Nehu, prompting the Union education ministry to order an inquiry by a two-member committee.

The panel got a 15-day extension on November 28 but it is not known whether it has submitted its report.

In a four-line application to the Nehu registrar on Monday requesting extention of his earned leave, Shukla said: “In continuation of my email dated December 1, 2024, regarding my earned leave, I request an extension of the same from December 27 (with suffix December 28 and 29) due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Shukla said he could be reached via phone or email in case of emergency and that the senior most professor or pro-vice-chancellor “shall look (at) routine work of the university during his absence”. Shukla went on leave on November 15.

The VC had sought an extension till December 13 because of the "ongoing" investigation conducted by the committee into charges of administrative failure against the varsity.

The students’ protest, which 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, is continuing but it is a daily two-hour sit-in without affecting the classes.

Since both teaching and non-teaching employees have been supporting the students, the return of Shukla seems difficult, sources said. The students are firm in their demand for the removal of the vice-chancellor. The indefinite fast ended after 16 days after the conditions of the protesting students started deteriorating.