Kathmandu, August 25

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, in the capacity of Chancellor of universities, has appointed Prof Ishwor Prasad Dhakal as vice-chancellor of Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU).

According to Prakash Adhikari, press coordinator to the PM, Koirala has already signed the appointment letter.

However, Prof Dhakal today said he had not received the appointment letter till this evening. He further said he had not got a call from government officials with invitation to receive the letter.

A VC Recommendation Committee led by Dr Yagya Bahadur Karki had recommended the Prof Dhakal’s name as the VC of Chitwan-based AFU yesterday. PM Koirala appointed four VCs in four universities — Tribhuvan University (TU), Nepal Sanskrit University (NSU), Purbanchal University (PU) and Far-Western University (FWU) yesterday.

All the appointees were close to the ruling Nepali Congress. Three VCs except the VC of NSU assumed their offices from yesterday. Prof Dhakal, a PhD from Rakuno Gakuen University, is the Dean of Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Fisheries in AFU. Meanwhile, the PM appointed Prof Badri Nath Shrestha as chairperson of Purbanchal University Service Commission for four years yesterday.

Prof Shrestha assumed office at the Sinamangal-based Contact Office of PU, due to the padlock put up by agitating professors organisation at Biratnagar-based office of varsity. The newly appointed chairperson said that he will use his experience and expertise in evaluating the work performance of teaching and non-teaching staff for timely promotion and their personality development.

He said, “I will be putting my efforts to improve the status of professors and staff at the level of their counterparts in developed countries.”

He was recommended for the position by democratic professors.