Students at Assam's Tezpur University have escalated their protest by launching a hunger strike. This drastic measure comes as a response to what they term 'prolonged inaction' by authorities regarding the removal of a Visiting Committee for Assessment (VCA) team from the Ministry of Education (MoE).
The Core of the Dispute: Allegations and Assurances
The protest stems from serious allegations of corruption leveled by the student community against a member of the VCA team, identified as Singh. The situation reached a critical point on December 6, 2025, when the MoE's VCA team visited the university campus. During this visit, the officials engaged with the agitating students and provided a significant assurance.
They promised that Singh would be excluded from all administrative duties until the completion of a formal inquiry into the corruption charges. This assurance was meant to placate the students and allow the investigative process to proceed without prejudice.
From Assurance to Agitation: The Hunger Strike Begins
However, in the days following the December 6 assurance, the students claim no concrete steps have been taken to fulfill the promise. Frustrated by the perceived delay and lack of visible progress, a group of students decided to intensify their protest.
They have now begun an indefinite hunger strike, demanding the immediate and complete removal of the concerned VCA team member from his role, pending the inquiry's outcome. The protesters argue that continued inaction undermines the integrity of the administrative process and the inquiry itself.
University Atmosphere and Potential Repercussions
The hunger strike has created a tense atmosphere on the Tezpur University campus. Student-led movements of this nature often draw attention from higher education bodies and state authorities. The primary demand remains clear: the university and MoE must translate their verbal assurance from December 6 into decisive administrative action.
Key facts of the situation include:
- Date of MoE VCA team visit: December 6, 2025.
- Key Assurance: Removal of Singh from administrative work during inquiry.
- Student Action: Initiation of a hunger strike due to inaction.
- Core Allegation: Corruption charges against the VCA team member.
The unfolding situation puts pressure on both the university administration and the Ministry of Education to address the students' grievances promptly to restore normalcy and trust in the institution's governance.
