Minister for Education and Sports Pradip Nepal has said that appointments of the top officials of the universities would be made by May 8.

Speaking at the parliamentary Education and Population Committee on Monday, Minister Nepal said that he would resign on May 9 if officials, including vice-chancellors of four universities were not appointed by May 8.

Top posts of the four universities of the country remained vacant after the officials appointed during the royal regime resigned form their posts.

Earlier, dispute among the two major factions of the coalition government Nepali Congress and CPN-UML pushed back the appointment process.

Nepal further claimed that a group of teachers has been trying to create hurdles in the appointment of officials in the universities.

“It will be in the interest of everyone if the Prime Minister appoints the officials at the universities as soon as possible. I will resign on May 9 if the officials are not appointed by May 8,” Nepal said.

Nepal said he had called on the Prime Minister to appoint the officials by May 8.

Nepal added that he was not in favour of political appointment in the universities.

“One lakh students are being affected because of the non-appointment of university officials,” Nepal said, adding, his ministry was receiving “warnings” over the issue of appointment.

Earlier, then Minister for Education and Sports Professor Mangal Siddhi Manandhar said that Prime Minister Koirala, who is also the chancellor the Universities could not appoint officials even after he had recommended for the posts.

According to sources, the tussle between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML about the division of top posts of the universities is pushing the appointment process back.