Sunsari, March 20

A fresh dispute has arisen at Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health and Sciences with the sacked vice-chancellor Prof Dr Raj Kumar Rauniyar returning to assume office.

Just this Tuesday, the government had elevated BPKIHS Rector Prof Dr Guru Prasad Khanal to the post of acting vice-chancellor sacking Rauniyar from the post for his involvement in irregularities.

Rauniyar has claimed he has been reinstated following the order of the Supreme Court. “The Supreme Court’s order has ruled that the decision of the prime minister and chancellor and the line minister to sack me from the post not be implemented until March 24 in effect reinstates me,” argued Rauniyar.

BPKIHS acting vice-chancellor Khanal, on his part, disavowed any knowledge of the court’s order ruling Rauniyar’s reinstatement and vowed that he would continue to work in the capacity of acting vice-chancellor.

“Since I’ve got the authority to work in the capacity of the vice-chancellor, there is no way I will back off. As I’ve not got any letter informing about any reinstatement or whatever, I am still the acting vice-chancellor,” he claimed.

Earlier, the PM had, on March 10, signed a document authorising the termination of Rauniyar from his job. Regarding the decision, the Supreme Court on March 18 had stayed the implementation of the decision until March 26, saying Rauniyar was not given a chance to present his clarification before action was taken against him.

On his part, BPKIHS Registrar Tul Bahadur Shrestha refused to buy Rauniyar’s claim that the Supreme Court’s ruling had allowed him to work in the erstwhile capacity.

“The SC has only ruled that the decision not be implemented until certain time; it doesn’t necessarily dictate that Rauniyar must be allowed to act in the previous capacity,” Shrestha said. “As the SC hasn’t said it clearly that Rauniyar be allowed to work, the present acting VC stands in the position,” he added.

Earlier, upon deliberations on the allegations against Rauniyar that he was involved in irregularities, the 42nd meeting of the executive committee senate of BPKIHS held in Kathmandu had decided to sack Rauniyar and recommended its decision to the PM and chancellor KP Sharma Oli.

The PM had endorsed the senate’s decision and relieved Rauniyar from his post on March 10. Following that, Deputy Prime Minister and deputy-chancellor of the institute Uprendra Yadav handed over job termination letter to Rauniyar.

With this, Yadav had handed over the economic and administrative rights to Khanal appointing him as the acting vice-chancellor.