Former vice-chancellors of various universities have issued a joint statement in solidarity with assistant professor Prem Chalaune.

In the statement, the former varsity heads condemned the Cabinet’s June 13 decision to withdraw Chalaune’s case, which was sub-judice at Kathmandu District Court, calling the move ‘condemnable’.

Chalaune, an assistant professor of Sociology at the Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur, was brutally beaten on October 6, 2020, by a gang of men including Hari Acharya, TU chapter president of Nepali Congress-affiliated Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), Yogendra Rawal, secretary of the same organisation and other members of the union.

Chalaune had sustained serious injuries on his head, chest and thighs, and spent a month in hospital.

A case of attempt to murder was filed against the assailants at Kathmandu District Court following the incident.

“By taking a decision that encourages indiscipline and criminal activities within educational institutions, the government itself has become a protector of such elements,” reads the notice.

They have requested the government to overturn the Cabinet decision while also expressing solidarity for Chalaune, who has been on a hunger strike since Monday.

The statement has been undersigned by former vice-chancellors Arjun Karki, Triratna Manandhar, Toran Bahadur Karki, Mahesh Kumar Upadhyay, Kamal Krishna Joshi, Khagendra Bhattarai, Nabin Prakash Jung Shah, Hira Bahadur Maharjan and Kedar Bhakta Mathema.