KATHMANDU, April 19: Tribhuvan University has suffered losses exceeding Rs 2 billion after hundreds of professors failed to return from study leave, prompting the university to begin recovering salaries and benefits.
Under existing rules, faculty and staff can take paid study leave for up to five years to pursue higher studies and research. The policy aims to build a skilled, research-oriented academic workforce. Instead, a large number of professors appear to have misused the provision.
Following public reports, TU formed a three-member investigation committee led by Dr. Jeevan Kafle, with members Krishna Hari Acharya and Deepak Tiwari. The committee found that around 398 professors either did not return after completing their leave or failed to complete their studies altogether.
This has caused both financial and academic damage. TU has had to hire part-time and contract teachers to fill vacant posts, adding further strain on its finances. According to the committee, the growing number of faculty who went abroad and never returned has also created academic disruption and reputational damage. The trend has sent a negative message to students and affected public trust in the institution.
The probe committee, formed on January 9, 2025, identified 191 professors who did not return after completing their leave and 207 who failed to complete their studies. An additional 50 to 60 cases are still under review.
TU regulations require faculty who take study leave to serve the university for a minimum period after returning. Those who take up to three years of leave must serve at least three years, while those taking longer leave must serve at least five years. Faculty members sign agreements committing to repay salaries and benefits with 10 percent interest if they fail to return.
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However, many reportedly remained abroad in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and parts of Europe after their leave expired. As a result, TU has begun issuing notices to recover dues.
According to TU Rector Prof. Dr. Khadga KC, the university has finally taken steps to address a long-standing issue. He said more than 400 cases of misuse have been identified, including those who completed leave but did not return and those who did not complete their studies.
So far, 20 individuals have repaid around Rs 60 million in line with their agreements, while more than 50 others are in the process of repayment. TU estimates that each individual may have to return between Rs 1 million and over Rs 5 million.
The university has warned of stricter action against defaulters. Those who fail to repay may have their names published and could face legal action if they do not respond within a 35-day notice period.
Preliminary estimates suggest that nearly Rs 2 billion was misused over five years by about 397 faculty and staff. This calculation is based on an average annual cost of over Rs 1 million per staff member, including salary, allowances, and benefits.
The issue has drawn attention from Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel, whose offices have held discussions with the probe committee. Their interest has accelerated the investigation process.
The committee has already inspected about 60 percent of TU’s constituent campuses, dean’s offices, and central departments. It found that misuse may be even more widespread than initially estimated, with the total number of cases possibly reaching 500.
Investigators are reviewing records dating back to 1987, as TU previously lacked a complete database on how many staff returned after study leave. The committee is now collecting data directly from campuses after failing to obtain accurate information through official channels.
TU grants study leave ranging from one to five years to support academic development, expecting recipients to contribute their knowledge and skills upon return. However, the committee concluded that many faculty members neither completed their studies on time nor returned to their respective campuses, undermining the core purpose of the policy.
University rules also state that staff absent without notice for 90 consecutive days can be dismissed. In some cases, individuals have sent resignation letters from abroad but have not repaid the money owed.
The investigation has covered multiple institutes and campuses, including those under science and technology, engineering, forestry, agriculture, medicine, and humanities. The highest number of misuse cases were found in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (114), followed by the Institute of Science and Technology (106) and the Institute of Engineering (99).
The committee reported additional cases across other faculties, including forestry, agriculture, medicine, education, management, and law.
Some lawmakers have also repaid dues. Anand Chand of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Jagat Timilsina of the Nepali Congress have returned the amounts they owed. Chand repaid Rs 4.456 million, while Timilsina returned Rs 3.35 million.
Other individuals have also started repayments, and TU has deposited the recovered funds into its pension fund. The university has even included these recoveries as a source of internal revenue in its fiscal year 2025-26 budget.
Despite progress, challenges remain. Many defaulters are reluctant to repay as accumulated interest often exceeds the original salary amounts. TU officials acknowledge legal and procedural hurdles in enforcing recovery but stress the need for stronger accountability with support from the government, civil society, and the media.
The university has set a deadline until mid-July to complete the investigation and plans to publish comprehensive data on those who failed to return.
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