Kathmandu: Student unions affiliated to political parties other than Madhes-based and Nepali Congress today urged agitating students to call off protests and allow the varsity to function as per its academic calendar.

Speaking at a programme organised by CPN-UML-affiliated All Nepal National Free Students’ Union, they said padlocking of the examination section was not acceptable at any cost.

Student unions of various Madhes-based political parties and Nepali Congress have padlocked the university since November 18 over appointment of high-level officials, following which the varsity on November 20 announced that exams of engineering and health sciences programmes had been put off for an indefinite period.

Ashesh Ghimire, central committee member of the union, said if the university was not opened and classes were not resumed, they would be forced to take to the streets.

Gopal Neupane, Purbanchal University chapter joint coordinator of the UCPN-Maoist aligned All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary, said university vice-chancellors could use their discretion to appoint deans and other officials in the university and there was no need to protest against such appointments.

“Purbanchal University Vice-chancellor Prof Maheshwor Man Shrestha had appointed five officials. But those who were left out opposed the decision and padlocked the Office of the Controller of Examination without taking into consideration what could be its impact on students,” he said.

In the meantime, Nirpendra Dhital of Nepal Students’ Union said the appointments were against past agreements and that they were forced to resort to padlocking. Dhital, an engineering student at the university, added that he himself was affected by the protest as his third semester exam was also put off.

source: The Himalayan Times,3 Dec 2011