The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) was established for the benefit of the people of the hill areas of the North-Eastern Region to develop the intellectual, academic and cultural background of the said people as stated in the preamble to the North-Eastern Hill University Act, 1973, hereinafter the Act. Some internal trouble, however, began in the University in the year 1980. There were public statements, letters to the editors, statement by students groups and so on. The University was in turmoil for about one full year. Dr A. K. Dhan, the then Vice-Chancellor left the University in November, 1980. No appointment of a regular Vice-Chancellor could be made for another year. In the mean time Dr S. C. Banwar, the pro-Vice-Chancellor started functioning as acting Vice-Chancellor of the University. The unrest, however, continued unabated. The University had the most agonising experience when the acting Vice-Chancellor was shot by unidentified assailant (s) at his residence on the night of 30th October, 1981, who succumbed to his injuries on the following day.

2. On 31st the police apprehended the petitioner, who was at the relevant time the Reader in the University, an