Kokrajhar, Nov. 20: The Kokrajhar campus of Gauhati University, the only institution for higher study in Lower Assam, is in a shambles, thanks to government laxity.

The campus, inaugurated by the then chief minister late Hiteswar Saikia in 1993, is yet to get regular teaching staff. Classes had started in the university after five years of its inauguration on April 18, 1998.

“The appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff of the campus were made according to the University service rules. According to the terms and conditions of the appointment, an employee has to complete one year of probationary period after which service is to be confirmed within a maximum period of five years. But till now the job of none of the employees has been regularised,” an employees said pleading anonymity.

In a 1995 letter, the Assam government had stated that it would bear all the expenses of salary of the employees of the campus including other necessary funds for the development of the campus. “Despite this, the Gauhati University has not confirmed the services of the employees of the campus,” Rajya Sabha MP U.G. Brahma, who is also the chairman of the advisory committee of Gauhati University, said.

“The university tries to justify its act saying that the Assam government has no clear-cut decision regarding the campus at Kokrajhar and the funds are not coming regularly from the government,” a reader in the campus said.

A student said there was no library in the campus. “It’s unfortunate that we have to do without any reference books as no library is here,” he said.

“To attract the students as well as scholars, a well-furnished library is necessary which the campus does not have at present. Besides, the campus has no hostel facilities and fails to attract students from outside,” Brahma said.

He further said it was decided initially that there would be seven departments — Assamese, Boro, Economics, English, History, Mathematics and Political Science — in this campus. “But the departments of Political Science, History and Mathematics are yet to be opened,” Brahma said.

There are two readers and 10 lecturers in English, Assamese, Boro and Economics departments in the campus now.

Two sanctioned posts of readers and as many of lecturers have not been filled up.

The campus is situated at Debargaon, 8 km from Kokrajhar town. The campus has students from Barpeta, Nalbari, Darrang and Bongaigaon apart from Kokrajhar district.