A group of university teachers forced their way into the offices at around 12 noon and carried out the destruction. According to Jagdish Chandra Bhandari, who was leading the group, they waited for the officials for three hours. However, the furious group got violent as the officials did not reach their workplace even by 12.[break]
“It is the daily routine of the TU high level officials,” said Bhandari. “They only occasionally stay at their offices, and as a result many service seekers who come to TU suffer.”
Likewise, Bhandari also blamed the officials of hankering after commissions and benefits. He added that the Sunday´s protest was “symbolic” and that they have not damaged the infrastructure much.
Meanwhile, the TU VC Hira Bahadur Maharjan said that he was busy as he was holding discussions with the university´s faulty deans.
Demanding inclusive appointments to the various posts in the TU, the university teachers on November 21 had padlocked the offices of the VC, rector and registrar last year. Their protest, which has continued for a month, ended after a team led by VC Maharjan had agreed to appoint some members from the agitating group to important TU posts on January 4.
Bhandari claimed that they were forced to take the move as the top three officials of the university have been appointing faculty deans and assistant deans as per their whims.
“The TU is a highly politicized institution and the major parties have long been manipulating the appointment of officials,” he said.
The TU executive board in October had appointed deans of six faculties. The posts were vacant for several months due to differences between professors´ unions and associations. All the appointed officials are nominated by Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist). Thus the CPN-Maoist also wants its share in the posts.
“We want to break the three parties´ syndicate in the TU. We want the TU executive committee to appoint professors from our party,” Bhandari said.
However, TU officials have been claiming faculty deans were appointed on the basis of seniority and competence. VC Maharjan further said that the TU may invite the agitating teachers for talks.
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