DHARAN, March 21: After the Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday issued an interim order to the government not to sack Prof Dr Raj Kumar Rauniyar from the post of vice-chancellor of the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, he returned to work amid celebrations by his supporters.
On Tuesday, BPKIHS Rector Dr Guru Khanal, who was named as acting vice chancellor by the government, had occupied the chair. With this, the institute now has two vice chancellors.
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While resuming his post, Rauniyar said that the court gave him justice and he will carry out the duties diligently. “By issuing a stay order, the court has given me justice. I vow to work in responsible and unbiased manner,” he said.
The government had on February 28 sacked VC Rauniyar after a senate meeting of the BPKIHS held on the same day at the prime minister's residence Baluwatar, recommended the prime minister, who is the chancellor of the university, to sack the VC.
On the other hand, Khanal stressed that the government has appointed him as acting VC and he would shoulder the responsibility with due seriousness. He said he has no official information on Rauniyar's return.
“I heard that he has resumed office. But I have not been formally informed about this,” he said. “I have been told by the minister concerned to work as acting VC and I will work accordingly,” he added.
BPKIHS officials requesting anonymity said the institution has become a pawn in political wrangling. "And this has hit the activities and growth of the institution for a long time."