KATHMANDU, April 11: In a case raising serious concerns over academic accountability, Tribhuvan University has recovered Rs 60 million from 19 professors who allegedly misused study leave facilities provided by the institution.
The issue surfaced after TU formed an investigation committee amid reports that a growing number of faculty members were going abroad on study leave and failing to return. The committee, led by Assistant Professor Dr Jeevan Kafle, was assigned to track teachers and staff who did not resume duty after availing the facility.
TU provides paid study leave under existing regulations to enhance academic capacity. However, the committee’s findings point to widespread misuse of the provision.
According to Dr Kafle, the preliminary report shows that 398 professors misused study leave benefits. Among them, 191 went abroad for studies but did not return, while 207 completed their studies.
TU to recover misused study leave funds from 187 staff
“Out of the 191 who did not return, 19 have refunded Rs 60 million to TU so far,” Dr Kafle said. “Another 46 professors have come into contact and submitted applications expressing their willingness to return the amount.”
The issue has also drawn attention from Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Minister for Education, Science and Technology Minister Sasmit Pokharel, who have directed authorities to speed up recovery and take necessary action.
The committee is expected to submit a detailed list of concerned professors to the TU Executive Council by mid-July, identifying those who have and have not returned the funds. Dr Kafle said that if all dues are recovered, the total amount could reach nearly Rs 2 billion.
Under TU regulations, teachers or staff who remain absent without notice for 90 consecutive days can be dismissed. The rules also allow study leave for up to five years, with a requirement to serve the university for an equivalent period upon return. However, the probe found that many faculty members failed to fulfill this obligation.
The investigation is ongoing, and the number of such cases is expected to rise. Most of the professors who took study leave reportedly went to countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and several European nations, where many have settled permanently after completing their studies.
TU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Deepak Aryal confirmed that Rs 60 million has been recovered so far and deposited into the university’s pension fund. He said the committee report will be further verified before being made public.
“Forty-six professors have formally applied, stating they will return the amount for the study leave they utilized,” Aryal said. “In some cases, although studies were completed, degrees were not obtained, so calculations are still being finalized, which has delayed the publication of the report.”
He added that TU operates its own pension system without government support, and the recovered funds—estimated at up to Rs 2 billion—will be used for the pension fund and infrastructure development.
