Nepal’s oldest and largest academic institution, Tribhuvan University (TU), is once again without a vice chancellor after Professor Keshar Jung Baral’s resignation was officially accepted on Thursday by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who also serves as the university’s Chancellor.

Baral had submitted his resignation on March 28, citing health reasons. However, sources close to the academic suggest that growing political pressure and lack of cooperation from the government forced him to step down. His resignation comes just over a year after his appointment by then-Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in February 2024.

Academic colleagues claim Baral was increasingly isolated after KP Sharma Oli assumed office last July, as the relationship between the two reportedly deteriorated from March 2024. Baral, who had said repeatedly that he did not accept the role merely as a formality, had pledged to implement his vision for the university. However, he often remarked that he would resign if the environment proved unsuitable for meaningful reform.

Despite the vice chancellor’s exit, no steps have been taken to initiate the statutory process of appointing a successor. According to the TU Act, the rector may serve as acting vice chancellor for up to three months while a recommendation committee is formed. Yet, with none of these procedures underway, the university is currently facing both academic and administrative uncertainty.

Professors within the TU Assembly warn that the leadership vacuum could severely impact the institution’s functioning.

This latest development adds to a long-standing pattern of political interference in Nepal’s public universities, raising fresh concerns about autonomy and governance in the country’s higher education sector.