Parliamentarians have taken the government to task for growing mismanagement in the universities.

Speaking at the special sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, MPs said the government failed to appoint senior officials in major universities despite continuous pressure from student unions and the university employees. They also panned the government for police action on a sit-in protest organised by Tribhuvan University Employees Association in front of Singh Durbar yesterday.

CPN (UML) MP Ishwor Pokhrel said the Prime Minister has remained tightlipped about the mismanagement in the universities. He demanded that the government immediately appoint officials to end the anarchy in the universities.

MP and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party chairman Nayaran Man Bijukchhe said both the government and ruling parties were equally responsible for the mismanagement in universities. “The parties in the government are becoming authoritarian. They should take responsibility for the mismanagement and yesterday’s police action on university employees,” he said.

MP Asthalaxmi Shaka also said mistreatment and arrest of TU staff reminded of the brutality of the despotic royal regime of the past.

Dozens of TU staff were inured when police used force to thwart a sit-in protest of TU staff in front of Singha Durbar, demanding appointment of vice-chancellor and other senior administrative officials, Monday afternoon.

Senior administrative posts in four universities – TU, Purwanchal University, Nepal Sankrit and Pokhara University – remain vacant for months. This has affected administrative works, regular examinations and convocations in these universities.

Meanwhile, Speaker Subash Nemwang has called for government attention regarding the mismanagement in universities. As the MPs speaking during the special sitting of the parliamentary today demanded that the Speaker issue a ruling to the government, he urged the government to make appointments in the universities.