Merit takes back seat in TU college chief appointments

KATHMANDU: Tribhuvan University (TU) has appointed chiefs of its 24 constituent colleges.

Although the largest university in the country had been insisting that any appointment and promotion would be based on meritocracy, the positions were distributed among the ruling coalition partners – Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, and Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) – as well as the main opposition, CPN (Maoist Center).

While Vice Chancellor Dr. Keshar Jung Baral claims that meritocracy was followed in the appointment process, professors say political quota-sharing prevailed. Not a single woman was considered for the vacant positions.

Although the university administration completed formal procedures, including calling for applications, presentations of work plans, and interviews of applicants, professors claim it turned out to be a mere formality. “In the end, the Vice Chancellor simply implemented political power-sharing,” said a TU professor.

TU Spokesperson Yaman Singh Bohra told Himal Press that the Executive Council made the appointments on Sunday.

A selection committee formed in October had recommended the names to the council.

According to the power-sharing agreement, eight positions each went to the ruling UML and NC, while chiefs in seven colleges were appointed from the Maoist Center’s quota. One college chief was appointed from the LSP quota.

TU Rector Prof. Dr. Khadga KC claimed that the appointments were made “100% on a merit basis”. “Those who ranked first among the competitors have been appointed,” KC said. “Five candidates were recommended for each position. Of them, three were shortlisted by a panel of experts.”

According to KC, candidates were shortlisted based on their academic certificates, PhD, research, published works, and experience.

Responding to a query on why women were not considered for the positions, KC claimed that few women had applied. “Two female candidates from Sanothimi Campus and Dharan Campus ranked lower in the selection process,” he added.

The university had called for applications on September 2 as per the Criteria and Standards for Appointment Bylaws, 2024.

Newly-appointed Campus Chiefs

From UML Quota:

1. Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus: Associate Prof Padma Kumar Adhikari
2. Butwal Multiple Campus: Assistant Prof Arun Kumar Kshetri
3. Surkhet Multiple Campus: Associate Prof Madhav Prasad Khanal
4. Tribhuvan Multiple Campus (Palpa): Assistant Prof Tanka Prasad Pantha
5. Jumla Multiple Campus: Assistant Prof Prakash Chandra Khatri
6. Central Technology Campus (Dharan): Professor Basanta Kumar Rai
7. Dhaulagiri Multiple Campus: Associate Prof Sudarshan Silwal
8. Paklihawa Campus: Associate Professor Janmajaya Gaire

From NC Quota 

1. Nepal Commerce Campus: Associate Prof Jitendra Prasad Upadhyay
2. Shankardev Campus: Associate Prof Kapil Khanal
3. Bhairahawa Campus: Associate Prof Lucky Prasad Joshi
4. Ramshwarup Ramsagar Campus: Professor Basantkumar Karna
5. Patan Joint Campus: Associate Prof Raghubir Bishta
6. Prithvi Narayan Campus: Professor Hari Prasad Pathak
7. Doti Multiple Campus: Associate Prof Dilananda Joshi
8. Mechi Multiple Campus: Associate Professor Devi Prasad Acharya

From Maoist Center Quota

1. Lalit Kala Campus: Assistant Prof Yam Prasad Sharma
2. Sanothimi Campus: Assistant Prof Madhav Prasad Shrestha
3. Mahendra Multiple Campus: Associate Prof Lalmani Acharya
4. Bishwa Bhasha Campus: Assistant Prof Mahendra Kumar Budhathoki
5. Bhojpur Multiple Campus: Associate Prof Parbat Kumar Rai
6. Institute of Forestry Studies (Pokhara): Associate Prof Narayan Prasad Gautam
7. Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (Lamjung): Assistant Professor Ram Kumar Shrestha

From LSP Quota

1. Suryanarayan Satyanarayan Campus (Siraha): Associate Prof Rajeshwar Prasad Yadav