Kavre, July 13:

Demanding protection of their professional rights, lecturers and professors of Kathmandu University here has been staging agitation for last three weeks. The agitating teachers have warned the administration of padlocking the university and disrupting all teaching activities if their demands are not fulfilled by July 31.

For the last four days, they have been chanting slogans on the university premises and staging a one-hour-long protest at the main gate of the university before classes start.

The teachers have various demands, including the reinstatement of professor-doctor Boris Niraula who was suspended on charges of actively participating in the Jana Andolan, ending the trend of dismissing professors who have served in the university for seven years after dubbing them “unable” and providing permanent appointment to teachers who have served in the university for two years.

“If our demands are not met, we will padlock the university from July 31,” said Sameer Dixit, general secretary of the Kathmandu University Teachers’ Union.

Kathmandu University vice-chancellor Dr Sureshraj Sharma said, “The demands of teachers are not in accordance with the statute of the university.” There are 158 lectures and professors working in the university.