Kavre: Notwithstanding the dissent voiced by professors at Kathmandu University, the government has pressed on with its decision to appoint Dr Ramkantha Makaju Shrestha as KU vice chancellor. 

The prime minister’s office (PMO) corresponded with the KU administration on Thursday calling the latter to collect Dr Shrestha’s appointment letter. 

Mukunda Upadhyay, KU administrative head, said they would visit the PMO on Friday to receive the appointment letter.Dr Shrestha, who is the director of Dhulikhel Hospital, is a senate member of the KU and also presides over the KU High School.

Dr Shrestha shall take over the VC seat vacated by Dr Suresh Raj Sharma, who served in the post since the establishment of the KU 21 years ago.

Meanwhile, the KU Professors’ Association ( KU PA) has threatened to launch a protest against Dr Shrestha’s appointment. Arguing that the nomination process for the VC candidate was not carried out in a fair and democratic manner, the KU PA had stood against the decision of the Education Minister Dina Nath Sharma-led selection panel to pick Dr Shrestha for the VC job.

After Dr Sharma resigned as the VC, Mana Prasad Wagle, Sitaram Adhikari, Subash KC, Subodh Sharma, Tankanath Sharma and Bhola Thapa were the likely contenders to take up the mantle.

However, the selection panel had referred only one name—Dr Shrestha—for the job.

We will not accept Dr Shrestha’s appointment, said KU PA President Bibhuti Ranjan Jha, reiterating that the selection process in itself was flawed.

source: The Kahmandu post,14 Dec 2012