Teachers, non-teaching staff and students of Assam’s Tezpur University demanded action against “absconding” Vice-Chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh, who has allegedly not been present on the campus since September 22, on Friday (October 31, 2025).
The Tezpur University Teachers’ Association (TUTA) called for Mr. Singh’s immediate removal over “serious irregularities” in the procurement of books and e-resources during the 2024-25 financial year.
Mr. Singh had earlier been accused of corruption and administrative mismanagement, apart from disrespecting Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg after he died in Singapore on September 19. He allegedly stayed away from the university for 388 days between April 2023 and September 2025.
According to TUTA, the university received ₹6.5 crore under the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Capital Assets scheme. Of this, approximately ₹4.5 crore was spent on books and e-resources, the bulk of which was awarded to a small group of Delhi-based vendors.
“The process of vendor selection appeared arbitrary and in violation of established General Financial Rules 2017, raising grave concerns about transparency and governance. Many of these vendors have previously been linked to the Bodoland University book procurement controversy, which involved allegations of inflated pricing and supply of substandard materials,” TUTA said.
