Sri Vijaya Puram, February 12, 2026
Member of Parliament from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, has sought urgent intervention of the Lieutenant Governor over the ongoing student agitation against the proposed establishment of a Deemed-to-be University in the Islands.
In a letter addressed to the Lieutenant Governor on February 10, Mr. Ray expressed serious concern over the growing unrest among students following the decision of the Government and the UT Administration to set up a Deemed-to-be University under the name Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Institute of Higher Learning (NSCBIHL).
According to the MP, students along with various stakeholders have launched protests and sit-in demonstrations at JNRM College in Sri Vijaya Puram and in Mayabunder, demanding that a Central University be established instead of a Deemed-to-be University. He noted that the issue has generated widespread anxiety among students, parents, academic institutions and the general public across the Islands.
Mr. Ray recalled that in response to a long-standing demand raised by students, associations, unions and PRI representatives, he had earlier written to the Prime Minister of India on December 9, 2025, seeking a review of the decision and urging the establishment of a Central University in the Islands. He informed that the Prime Minister had subsequently directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to examine the matter, which is currently under consideration by the Government of India and the UT Administration.
The MP also pointed out that the decision to establish a Deemed-to-be University has been challenged before the Hon’ble High Court in WP No. 53 of 2026 (Vaishnavi Naidu & 3 Others vs. A&N Administration), and the case is presently pending adjudication.
In view of the prevailing situation, Mr. Ray has urged the Lieutenant Governor to keep the process of establishing the Deemed-to-be University in abeyance until a final decision is taken by the Government of India on his representation and the High Court delivers its judgment in the pending writ petition.
He cautioned that proceeding further with the process while the matter is under consideration before both the Government and the High Court may be contrary to the principles of law and natural justice and could further aggravate public unrest.
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray has appealed for immediate intervention in the larger interest of students and the people of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, stressing the need for a fair, transparent and widely acceptable decision on the future of higher education in the Union Territory.
