Recover TU’s Land

Tribhuvan University (TU), established in 1959, remained the sole university in the country for about three decades and was considered a reputed institution. Over time, it grew in its breadth and width and boasted tens of thousands of students in a number of faculties and subjects. Obviously, it was not on par with the first-tier universities across the globe, but there was no dearth of professors with extensive knowledge and wisdom and charismatic lecturers and scholars under TU campuses. The students who attended TU traversed the world and competed with scholars and professionals from acclaimed universities. At home, the institution invoked a sense of regard among a majority of people who pursued higher education under its various campuses. 

However, since the restoration of the multiparty polity in the country in 1990, the tradition of filling the top posts of vice chancellor, registrar, deans and other officials through political appointments has gradually spoiled the academic environment in the university. Merit and excellence took a back seat; party loyalty served as the stellar quality to fill these positions. The worst was yet to come, when the political parties divided the top posts in the university and sent their cadres to lead the institution that was supposed to shape the future of countless students. The quality of education suffered thanks to poor leadership, combined with growing student politics. Over time, business lobbies exploited their political connection to have access to the high-value land of the university in this or that pretext. 

According to an investigation report, at least 840 ropanis of TU’s land have been missing or encroached upon by 18 organisations -- private, religious and other types. For example, the university ran a Laboratory School for School of Education graduates to practice teaching. Over time, private players managed to take over its management and were found to have applied for ownership transfer to the Kalanki Land Registration Office without informing the university. The report has pointed out the lack of initiative on the part of the university to maintain proper inventory of its property and even complicity with vested interest groups to get the land transferred. The report was made public about a month ago, and the university officials were instructed to take initiatives immediately to recover the encroached land. 

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, also the chancellor of the university, held a meeting with all concerned officials in the presence of ministers, including Education Minister Mahabir Pun, and sought details about the progress being made. According to a news report in this daily, not much progress has been made towards this end so far. Hence, the PM instructed the officials to take proactive measures to reclaim the property of the university. The Home Ministry has pledged to extend necessary support, while Minister Pun has noted there is no scope of complacency but to carry out this task quickly. So it’s high time TU officials made meaningful efforts in coordination with police and the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority, if necessary, to reclaim the land of the university illegally owned and used by unauthorized individuals and organisations. It’s highly unlikely that they will get a favourable environment to get the job done if they fail to act swiftly.