Nepal Progressive Professors Association (NPPA), a professors’ organisation close to CPN-UML, on Tuesday padlocked administrative buildings of five universities claiming that the Nepali Congress (NC) ‘unilaterally’ appointed Vice-Chancellors (VC) without its consultation.

The NPPA padlocked administration offices at Tribhuvan University (TU), Purbanchal University (PU), Far-Western University (FWU), Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) and Nepal Sanskrit University (NSU) warning of further protests if the decision is not corrected. 

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, also the Chancellor, had appointed Tirtha Khaniya at TU, Kul Prasad Koirala at NSU, Ghanshyam Lal Das at PU, Bhusan Shrestha at FWU and Ishwari Prasad Dhakal at AFU this week.

Among the appointees, four are close to NC-affiliated Democratic Professor Association while Dhakal is close to UCPN (Maoist)-affiliated Nepal Professor’s Association. 

Khaga Raj Sharma, general secretary of NPPA, claimed that they were forced to resort to padlock the offices since NC failed to consult with its 

coalition partner while making the appointments. 

“It is an established practice that appointments are made through mutual 

agreement in a coalition government,” said Sharma. He added that the protest will spread to other affiliated colleges if NC fails to correct its mistake.

The NPPA had been demanding the right to appoint VCs in three universities. However, only two—Pokhara University and Mid-Western University—have been allocated for UML appointments. 

According to Rameshwor Upadhyay, member of the recommendation committee led by Education Minister Chitra Lekha Yadav, appointments in the remaining two universities have been delayed as NPPA has not yet recommended names for them.

They accuse the ruling Nepali Congress of unilaterally appointing VCs close to them without prior consent of coalition partner, the UML