Minister for Education Dhani Ram Poudel has assured that he working to resolve the long-running property dispute among Tribhuvan University (TU) and three universities.

“The problem will be resolved soon. I am seriously working on the matter,” Poudel told the media in Chitwan on Monday. As TU has its constituent colleges in majority of districts, the government has been converting its properties into new

universities.

As per its commitment to set up at least one university in each province, the government has tabled a bill in the Legislature-Parliament for establishing Rajarshi Janak University by converting Janakpur-based Ramswarup Ramsagar Multiple College which is one of TU constituent colleges.

Once endorsed by Parliament, it will be the first varsity in Province 2.

Parliament on June 17, 2010 had passed Acts to set up three new universities. The TU was thus required to hand over Siddhanath Campus and Siddha Nath Multiple Campus to Far-Western University; and Surkhet Campus (Education), Birendra Multiple Campus and Public Science Campus to Mid-Western University.

Similarly, the Agriculture and Animal Sciences Campus based in Rampur and Forestry Campus, Hetauda had to be handed over to the Chitwan-based Agriculture and Forestry University.

Six years on, the country’s oldest varsity has yet to comply with the provisions, claiming that as an autonomous body it is free to take its own decisions. In the lack of adequate infrastructure, the three universities have been struggling to run their classes and expand their programmes.

Since the establishment of the universities, successive prime ministers, who are ex-officio chancellor of the TU, have directed the university several times to immediately release the properties.

Following a directive from then prime minister Baburam Bhattarai, the TU in 2012 formed a committee comprising Education Secretary Suresh Man Shrestha, Prof Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Prof Ram Man Shrestha, Prof Yogendra Narayan Badbariya and Kuber KC to explore ways to hand over the land, buildings, goods and equipment to the new universities.