The Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) has set up an investigation committee to probe the study leave taken by its teaching and administrative personnel amid growing concerns over potential misuse.
According to an official letter released by Registrar Prof. Dr. Subir Singh, the university constituted the committee following explicit directives from the Ministry of Education and Sports and the University Grants Commission, alongside an official decision made by AFU's Executive Council.
Committee Structure and Composition
The investigative panel is led by Dr. Gandhiv Kafle, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry. The committee includes the following members:
- Dr. Krishna Prasad Thapaliya, Associate Dean (Administration) of the Faculty of Agriculture
- Rajendra Basyal, Associate Dean (Administration) of the Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Fisheries
- Sahadev Chaudhary, Co-Administrator
Additionally, Dinesh Adhikari, Acting Deputy Administrator at the Staff Administration Division, has been appointed to serve as the member-secretary of the panel.
Scope and Terms of Reference
The inquiry will scrutinize all teachers and staff members who have been granted study leave, covering both long-standing employees who served since the university's establishment and those who joined through adjustment from other institutions or universities.
The panel's primary task involves evaluating the formal approval process for each leave request, reviewing the academic status and progress made by the individuals, assessing the stated grounds for leave, and examining the actual activities undertaken by the concerned personnel while on study leave.
