Kavre, August 11

Kathmandu University Professors’ Union has padlocked the offices of the vice-chancellor, registrar and deans in Dhulikhel, Kavre district.

The union locked the offices of the vice-chancellor and the registrar today while the offices of deans at the School of Science and School of Engineering were padlocked last Thursday.

The union locked the offices of vice-chancellor and registrar for indefinite period citing failure of the university management to execute agreements inked with the varsity earlier.

Vice-chancellor Professor Ramkanth Makaju had left his office two minutes before it was padlocked.

Professors’ Union Chairman Bedmani Dahal said that they had resorted to locking the offices as the varsity had failed to implement the agreements sealed earlier.

Their demands included the removal of discriminatory provisions incorporated in Kathmandu University Act 1991 through talks, formation of policy of appointment of professors and employees and formulation of policies to enhance quality of education, among others.

At a meeting held on August 2, the varsity’s registrar Dr Subodh Sharma had assured the process of selecting professors’ representative at the Executive Council within 10 days at the varsity.

However, another person was selected in the executive council the same day.

Issuing a press statement last Thursday, the union had urged all the professors and employees not to participate in all kinds of examinations conducted by Kathmandu University.

Professors’ Union General Secretary Dr Bikash Adhikari said they had asked the Examination Conduction Committee and the university management to arrange alternative manpower for the exam before the padlock was enacted.

The union claims that the deans at the School of Science and School of Engineering had abused their posts by pressing professors and employees. The union has also said it will not open the lock until its demands are addressed.

School of Science Dean Professor Kanhaiya Jha, however, refuted the allegation that he had pressed the professors and staffers.

He informed that he had urged the union to hold talks to implement agreements reached in the past.

“We are ready to talk to the union to resolve the problem,” Professor Jha added.