Director appointed at NERIST, 8-day long stalemate ends

The Centre today appointed Dr Hardeo Singh Yadav as the director of the North East Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) near here, ending an eight-day long stalemate at the central institute.
The Students' Union of NERIST (SUN) had been agitating since February 27 demanding appointment of a regular director, but they were not happy with the appointment as it wanted a director from outside. Dr Yadav is a teacher at the NERIST.
"The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal based on recommendation of the Search-cum- Selection Committee, for appointment of Dr H S Yadav to the post of Director, NERIST on contract basis for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge," a notification of the Union HRD ministry said today.

Dr Yadav is currently serving as the senior most professor of the chemistry department in the institute, had served as in-charge director of the deemed university from April 19, 2016 to March 26 last year.
The students union and the employees association of the institute, however, were not happy as they wanted a director from outside.
"No one is happy with the decision of the ministry as we want a regular director from outside the institute," SUN president Banta Natung said.

"We will soon call a meeting of all the stakeholders of the institute and discuss our future course of action," Natung added.

During the agitation, the students had locked the institution.
Some students also resorted to hunger strike since March 1 and two of them had to be taken to hospital on Monday.
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union yesterday called for a shut-down of colleges and universities in the state.
NERIST Employees Association general secretary Tana Suren said the employees would go with the decision of the students.
The 34-year old institute has been without a regular director since 7 October, 2014 and it is affecting over 1800 students.