Purbanchal University observed its 26th anniversary function with a bitter irony. Even as the university was celebrating its anniversary on Saturday, two of its administrative offices—the rooms of vice-chancellor and registrar—were padlocked.

The rooms have been padlocked by various student unions for seven months over disagreements about the appointment of university officials. The university has been without a vice-chancellor since Ghanashyam Lal Das’s tenure ended in August 2019.

But in his speech, Provincial Governor Somnath Adhikari, who attended the event as the chief guest, neither mentioned the padlock nor the lack of the vice-chancellor.

On June 24, 2019, the Nepal Student Union, the student wing of the Nepali Congress, padlocked the university, putting forth a five-point demand. Students from the university’s School of Engineering and Technology padlocked the university the same day. A couple of weeks later, three student unions—All Nepal National Independent Student’s Union (ANNISU), ANNISU (Revolutionary) and Federal Student Forum—jointly padlocked the same offices. The series of padlocking did not end there. Two months later, on August 25, the Nepal Student Union again padlocked the offices, including that of the chair of the University Service Commission.

Following the end of former vice-chancellor Das’s tenure, the government appointed Bijukumar Thapaliya as acting vice-chancellor but he has not gotten to enter his room yet. Registrar Pramila Thapa has not entered her office for seven months.

Speaking to the Post, acting VC Thapaliya said that the student unions haven’t agreed to come to the negotiation table despite repeated attempts.

Shambu Koirala, dean of the education and arts faculties, said that overt political wrangling at the university has weakened the university’s image and functioning. “The fact that the university hasn’t got a vice-chancellor and the major offices are padlocked is a bitter irony to this centre of knowledge,” he said.