NERIST faces administrative crisis with director’s resignation
NIRJULI: The North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) here has plunged into a deep administrative crisis as its director, Prof Narendranath S, reportedly resigned on Saturday under mysterious circumstances.
Prof Narendranath’s resignation came just a day after the suspension order issued to NERIST Registrar Mai Kuru Camder and Assistant Registrar Boge Kamduk on 29 May in connection with alleged irregularities and manipulation of recruitment rules (RRs) 2022 for non-teaching staffers of the institute.
Prof Narendranath’s resignation has deepened the administrative crisis. It is alleged that the director was put under tremendous pressure by student unions, compelling him to submit his resignation to the chairman of the board of management.
This daily could not get a reaction from Prof Narendranath on the latest development.
Sources in the NERIST informed that the crisis is linked to the Department of Higher and Technical Education’s order dated 19 December, 2025, through which it had constituted a one-man inquiry committee, headed by NIT Agartala Director Prof Sarat Kumar Patra, to inquire into the academic and administrative issues at the NERIST.
The order stated that the inquiry committee would examine the academic issues which led to the students’ strike at the NERIST on 28 November, 2025.
The inquiry committee was directed also to examine procedural propriety and administrative regularity in issuing recent transfer orders;examine all issues related to advertisements and RRs of the institute; and other administrative affairs. The Ministry of Education asked that the report be submitted within two months.
It is reported that the suspension order against Camder and Kamduk were issued by the director, following directives from the ministry to act upon the recommendations and findings of the one-man inquiry committee.
To substantiate it, a copy of a representation by the NERIST Employees’ Association was accessed by The Arunachal Times, wherein the association had alleged that there was tampering and alteration of the RRs. It went on to allege that the RRs published on the NERIST website on 9 December, 2022 were different from the RRs forwarded by Government of India Undersecretary Ashok Kumar Singh. It claimed that the designation of Registrar MK Camder was changed to joint registrar from the post of deputy registrar, prior to his selection as registrar.
Interestingly, the resolution was adopted during a meeting held on 12 May, 2026, the minutes of which was signed by NERIST authorities and representatives of various student organisations, resolving that the outcome of the one-man inquiry committee’s findings would not be entertained if the report was beyond the terms of reference and against any employee of the institute.
It is unclear whether Prof Narendranath was forced to sign the minutes drafted on 12 May, as the resolution was taken in total opposition to institutional hierarchy and precedence.
Expressing deep concern over the crisis, members of the NERIST Research Scholars’ Association on Sunday strongly condemned “any act that interferes with the functioning of an academic institution through intimidation or coercion.” The research scholar’s association urged all organisations and individuals to “refrain from actions that undermine the dignity, stability, and reputation of the NERIST.”
It requested the law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and responsible stakeholders to condemn such acts and support the maintenance of a peaceful academic environment.
It added that appointing a temporary or acting director may not adequately address the institute’s long-term needs, as such arrangements often have limited administrative authority and decision-making powers. “For the sustained growth and development of the NERIST, the institute requires a stable and permanent leadership,” it said.
On 28 November, 2025, the Students’ Union of NERIST had declared an indefinite shutdown of the institute, classes, examinations, and all campus activities, alleging serious charges against Assistant Registrar (Establishment) Doge Kamduk, accusing him of facilitating appointment of close relatives to posts like MTS, technicians, drivers, and casual workers, allegedly bypassing norms, board of management approval, and the Ministry of Education’s procedures. Other grievances were poor infrastructure (delay in hostel construction), inefficiency in administration, and failure to address long-pending student grievances.
It demanded removal of Kamduk from all sensitive positions; formation of a high-powered inquiry committee; completion of hostels; and carrying out other administrative reforms.
Following the students’ agitation, Kamduk was removed from all sensitive posts (establishment, finance, confidential, legal, purchase, etc), and OSD Puran Singh Chauhan resigned.
