Valley
TU forms panel to look into IoM dean appointment row
The Tribhuvan University (TU) has formed a seven-member committee led by former dean of the Institute of Medicine (IoM) Dr Ramesh Kanta Adhikari to assess the ongoing debate on IoM dean appointment and suggest a permanent solution to the issue.The Tribhuvan University (TU) has formed a seven-member committee led by former dean of the Institute of Medicine (IoM) Dr Ramesh Kanta Adhikari to assess the ongoing debate on IoM dean appointment and suggest a permanent solution to the issue.
Stating that its attention has been drawn to the issue of appointment of dean at the IoM, varsity said it decided to form the committee with a view to finding a lasting solution to the matter.
“A meeting of the executive committee on November 22 decided to form the high-level committee,” reads a statement issued by the TU.
Dr Kumar Kumar Kafle, Dr Prakash Sayami and Dr Rakesh Prasad Shrivastava, former deans of IoM; Dr Manohar Prasad Gupta, former executive director of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital; Dr Ridish Kumar Pokharel, chief, Planning Division of TU are the members of the committee. Bishnu Prasad Khanal has been appointed member secretary.
The appointment of dean at IoM has been a contentious issue since 2012 when Dr Govinda KC began his first fast demanding that the dean of the institute should not be handpicked based on their political affiliation.
Since then, six deans, Dr KP Singh being the latest, have been appointed at the IoM.
Dr Dharma Banskota and Dr Sashi Sharma had resigned after Dr KC’s earlier hunger strikes. Dr Prakash Sayami and Dr Rakesh Shrivastava who were appointed based on their seniority were forced to resign following “political pressure”.
Dr KC is on his 10th hunger strike and one of his demands includes appointment of dean at the IoM on the basis of seniority.
Dr Adhikari said they will first revisit the existing dean appointment process and then propose new standards.
“I have been assured that the standards we propose will be endorsed by the executive committee and appointments now onwards will be based on it,” said Dr Adhikari. “We are holding our first meeting on Thursday.”
Students picket TU vice-chancellor’s officeKATHMANDU: Students of the Institute of Medicine (IoM) picketed Tribhuvan University vice-chancellor’s office on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Tirtha Khaniya. They also chanted slogans demanding appointment of dean at the IoM on the basis of seniority. Khaniya has been accused of plagiarism. (PR)