KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 12

The prime minister and minister of education have been asked to reevaluate the contentious nominee for vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University by the House of Representatives' Committee on Education, Health, and Information Technology.

The committee meeting at Singha Durbar today scrutinized the selection process and search committee and decided to draw the attention of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology to TU's Vice-Chancellor Name Recommendation and Search Committee. The Committee members discussed the names that were shortlisted for the position of university vice-chancellor. One of the 43 applicants for the position of vice-chancellor was rejected while the names of 14 others were considered. Ekraj Ojha's application was cancelled after it was discovered that he was not one of the applicants who was a professor, according to MoEST Secretary Suresh Adhikari. A total of 43 candidates had applied for the post of TU's Vice-chancellor. There were two females and 41 men. However, only 42 names were made public following the rejection of Ojha's application, according to Adhikari.

Committee chairman Bhanu Bhakta Joshi called on the government and recommendation committee to re-evaluate since those accused of intellectual theft, corruption, and information concealment are also shortlisted.

"The VC selection process has raised a myriad of issues, including information hiding, plagiarism, and corruption, that have been brought to the attention of social media and the media, and those individuals are now on the list," he said. "The committee would like to request the ministry and the prime minister to pay special attention to these issues," he added.

Vice-chancellor Shivlal Bhusal was accused of concealing information, former vice-chancellor Kesharjung Baral of Pokhara University was accused of corruption, and former vice-chancellor Tirtha Raj Khania, whose name is on the shortlist, was accused of plagiarism.

The legislators were adamant that the disputed person should not be shortlisted. The committee also called for an investigation into Bhusal's recent appointments. On February 6, Bhusal's executive council met and decided to appoint assistant deans, four department heads, and six campus heads. Protests erupted in the committee over the political appointment and affiliation of the Acting Vice-Chancellor.

Both CPN-UML MP Bidya Bhattarai and Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Sumana Shrestha stated that an acting VC could not be appointed. However, despite being invited to the committee for discussion, Minister of Education, Science, and Technology Ashok Kumar Rai did not show up.

Secretary Suresh Adhikari and State Minister Pramila Kumari attended the meeting. Parliamentarians protested when the chancellor, who is the prime minister, Vice-chancellor, and education minister failed to show up for the meeting. According to State Minister Pramila Kumari, the shortlisted candidate has not been the subject of any complaint as of now.

"The TU Vice-Chancellor selection process has been conducted in compliance with the law. No complaint has been received regarding those named on the shortlist," she stated. "There have not been any complaints regarding information hiding, corruption, or intellectual theft."

Similarly, Education Secretary Suresh Adhikari said while the committee could look into issues like intellectual theft, if necessary, the recommendation would still be followed through. "The VCs are appointed from among those who have applied for the post. Currently, the law prohibits appointing vice-chancellors directly from outside," he informed the committee.

Today is the first day of the 14 shortlisted candidates' presentations. A paper and a professional action plan for the four individuals who made the shortlist are being presented today. Likewise, five people will present tomorrow (February 13), and four people will present their papers on February 14 followed by an interview.

The process of appointing the university's Vice-Chancellor based on merit has been ongoing for some time. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also the chancellor of TU, has promised not to appoint vice-chancellors based on political affiliation.