Dr Govinda KC yesterday served a two-day ultimatum to concerned bodies, particularly Tribhuvan University, to appoint a new dean at the Institute of Medicine, saying failure to do so will force him ‘ to resort to civil disobedience again’. But TU seems to be all set to give a silent treatment to Dr KC, who is recuperating since January 24 after breaking his 13-day fast-unto-death following assurances that his demands would be addressed.

As of now it seems TU will not be able to fulfil Dr KC’s demand of appointing a new IoM dean by tomorrow. The catch is: TU executive council must meet to appoint a new dean and member secretary of the EC is ‘out of station’. Chandramani Poudel, member secretary of TU EC and also the registrar, told this daily over phone: “I am in Pokhara now and I am not available for any meeting for a few more days, as I am on a tour of some western districts.”

This leaves the concerned bodies with one option — appointment of dean by TU vice-chancellor. As per TU Act 1992, vice-chancellor reserves the right to appoint a new dean for three months. But sources said ‘it is highly unlikely that the VC will appoint a new dean at IoM exercising this authority’. “Even if the VC makes this move, it will not address Dr KC’s demand,” added the sources. TU Rector Gunanidhi Neupane, also a member of the TU executive council, confirmed that TU EC meeting cannot be held in the absence of member secretary.

Krishnahari Baskota, Secretary at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, who was one among four persons to have received Dr KC’s ultimatum SMS, however, said, he wanted the TU EC to initiate the process to appoint a new dean before the deadline set by Dr KC.

“I have not responded to Dr KC personally, but I have been asking the concerned bodies to take up Dr KC’s call seriously,” he told THT. “TU EC must do something by Tuesday to implement the agreement that was signed between the government and Dr KC on January 24.” Dr KC yesterday sent SMS to four government secretaries — Baskota, Home Secretary Janardan Nepal, Education Secretary Narayan Gopal Malego and Health Secretary Dr Praveen Mishra — saying that ‘I am bound to start civil disobedience again’ if the agreement reached to appoint new dean did not materialise within two days.

Dr KC’s ultimatum, however, has ruffled TU EC officials’ feathers. “A committee has already been formed to recommend three possible names for the post. There was no need to put unnecessary pressure on the council with such an ultimatum,” sources at the council said.

If Dr KC resorts to hunger strike again, it will be his fourth such move.

What’s the catch
> Tribhuvan University vice-chancellor, as per TU Act 1992, can appoint a new dean for three months as temporary arrangement, but sources say it is unlikely the VC will do so
> No meeting of the TU executive council can be held without member secretary, who is out of station with no possibility of returning to capital for a few days

source: the himalayan times,3 feb 2014