USTM Built on Forest Land, Faces Uncertain Future Within 2 Years: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched a fierce attack on the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), questioning its legitimacy and future. Speaking at a press conference, Sarma claimed the university has been illegally constructed on forest land and warned that its existence beyond the next two years is uncertain. He said the matter has already been brought to the notice of the Supreme Court, signaling potential legal consequences.

Sarma accused USTM of being more of a commercial enterprise than an educational institution. Expressing his disdain for the university and its chancellor, Mahbabul Haque, he remarked, “I keep praying to God that it be demolished as early as possible. It is not an educational institution but an institution that has commercialised education.” He further criticized the Meghalaya government for its lack of action, stating, “If it had been in Assam, I would have sorted this out a long time ago,” clearly hinting at what he believes is administrative inaction or leniency from Meghalaya’s authorities.

This is not the first time Sarma has directed criticism at USTM or its chancellor. Mahbabul Haque, who is also the head of the ERD Foundation that operates several educational institutes, was previously arrested in connection with a cheating scandal. He was accused of facilitating unfair means for students during exams. Although Haque was later released on bail, the allegations further fueled Sarma’s criticism of the institution.

The situation intensified following Haque’s public statement offering to educate children displaced by eviction drives in Assam. Sarma rebuked this gesture, suggesting Haque was interfering in matters beyond his domain, saying, “He tries to poke his nose into everything.”

Further legal troubles for Haque include his arrest on February 22 from Guwahati, along with five teachers from a Patharkandi school located in Sribhumi district. They were sent to 14 days of judicial custody. Multiple cases have been filed against Haque in various police stations, including Gossaigaon, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, and Sonitpur. The Gauhati High Court later granted him bail in the Sribhumi and Sonitpur cases and also provided protection from arrest in other pending cases.

Haque’s past is also under scrutiny for allegedly obtaining a fake Other Backward Classes (OBC) certificate in the 1990s, which was eventually revoked. This has only added to the cloud of controversy surrounding his public and professional life.

The USTM was also previously blamed by Sarma for causing urban flooding in Guwahati, which he controversially described as “flood jihad.” He attributed the problem to the university’s location on a hilltop, suggesting it contributed to waterlogging in the surrounding areas of the city.

The controversy continues to grow, with Chief Minister Sarma holding firm to his belief that USTM symbolizes the pitfalls of commercialized education. His repeated public statements and legal assertions against the university indicate that the institution may face significant hurdles in maintaining its operations if regulatory or judicial actions follow. The ongoing conflict underscores broader tensions surrounding private educational institutions, political oversight, and environmental compliance in the region.