Gangtok, Dec 6 : The serene academic landscape of Sikkim University (SU) has been ruffled by a decidedly un-serene appointment, raising serious questions about the institution’s due diligence—or lack thereof.
The official in question is Braja Bandhu Mishra, the former Finance Officer of Tezpur University (TU), who has just been ushered in as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the SU Vice-Chancellor on a one-year contractual basis.
The Tezpur Backstory: A Cloud of Irregularities
Mishra’s arrival in Sikkim is notable because of the dramatic circumstances he left behind in Tezpur. He served his notice on October 30 and relinquished charge on November 30, but not before being embroiled in a significant campus crisis.
The Accusations: Mishra was reportedly one of the key officials facing allegations of financial irregularities in connection with ongoing protests against TU’s Vice-Chancellor, Sambhu Nath Singh.
The Attendance Issue: Adding fuel to the fire, Mishra reportedly stopped attending his TU office on September 22—just a day after the internal protests kicked off.
The Tenure Tussle: The Tezpur University Teachers’ Association had even raised the alarm to the Ministry of Education over the controversial extension of Mishra’s tenure as Finance Officer after his superannuation in May.
Mishra has defended his abrupt departure, telling the Indian Express that he was leaving due to the “adversarial climate there” and denied any wrongdoing on his part.
The Sikkim Appointment: A Race Against Time?
The shift from the eye of a financial storm in Assam to a sensitive post in Sikkim has been remarkably swift.
The Timeline: Sikkim University advertised for the OSD post on October 19. Of the nine applicants, four were interviewed, and Mishra was selected.
SU’s Justification: SU Vice-Chancellor Santanu Kumar Swain defended the selection, citing an “urgent requirement” for the position. He justified Mishra’s selection by the committee, which included an external member, based on his “ample experience in different central universities.”
Is Sikkim becoming a dumping ground of wrongdoers nowadays?
This hasty appointment has caused significant eyebrows to be raised across Sikkim. The core concerns being voiced by local observers revolve around:
Lack of Vetting: The speed of the appointment suggests SU may have failed to conduct a proper background check on an official who was simultaneously under a cloud of serious allegations in his previous institution.
Sensitive Post, Zero Transparency: Appointing a controversial figure to a high-ranking, sensitive post like OSD to the VC—often a key advisory role—highlights a concerning lack of transparency from the central university administration.
The Timing: Critics question the institution’s priorities in fast-tracking an official who seems to have fled one controversy only to land in another high-level position elsewhere.
Big Question Arise : Are central universities, especially in smaller, sensitive states like Sikkim, being used as convenient landing spots for officials looking to escape internal institutional scrutiny?
