KATHMANDU, April 4: The appointment of the Registrar and Rector at Tribhuvan University (TU) has hit a roadblock, with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who also serves as the Chancellor of the university, delaying the process. Despite Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Keshar Jung Baral's recommendations for the positions a week ago, there has been no progress from Prime Minister Dahal's end.
Prof Kedar Rijal from the Department of Environmental Science and Prof Khadga KC from the Department of International Relations were recommended for the role of Registrar. The university has been without a permanent Registrar for three months and without a Rector for five months.
Prof. Dr. Khadga KC appointed as Rector, Dr. Kedar Rijal as Reg...
This year marked a significant change as recommendations for the positions of Registrar and Rector were made without considering party affiliations, aligning with Prime Minister Dahal's promise to eliminate political divisions within university appointments—a stance he adopted following his appointment of the Vice-Chancellor, acknowledging the negative impact of party divisions on the university.
However, the delay in appointing the recommended candidates for Registrar and Rector raises concerns that Prime Minister Dahal may be retracting his pledge to keep the university free from party politics.
The selection process was initiated on March 19 when Vice-Chancellor Baral called for applications, allowing a week for submissions. Over 100 candidates applied, leading to the selection and recommendation of one individual for each position to Chancellor Dahal.
Vice-Chancellor Baral, who took office on February 22, has expressed his desire to independently form his team of university officials, including the Registrar and Rector, emphasizing the importance of leadership autonomy in academic administration.
