Last year, TU had directed the Maharajgunj-based IoM to come up with the plan to shift its undergraduate programme for medical studies to Kirtipur. The university  had also formed a committee to co duct the detailed study for the relocation project. Dr Jagdish Agrawal was assigned

with the task of overseeing the project.

The committee, however, had stated in its report that there was no need for relocation. The report said that IoM was indeed in need of expanding its programme, but maintained that the relocation should take place on a land owned by the IoM itself, not on other’s property.

Sources said that the TU was planning to go ahead with its plan in line with the decision taken by the university’s senate meeting that took place in September 2014. The TU is pressing ahead notwithstanding the IoM’s disapproval.

In his speech during a convocation ceremony last year, Hira Bahadur Maharjan, vice-chancellor of TU, had said that the university had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Public Health Concern Trust, Nepal, to use its property for the programme.

A high-level source at the TU said that the move was solely driven by the interest of Vice-chancellor Maharjan. “As his tenure is coming to an end, Maharjan wants to leave an impression among the people of his hometown Kirtipur that he was responsible for setting up a big health institution.” The source added that Maharjan was also planning to form a separate committee which might conduct another round of study and produce conclusion in his favour.