Tribhuvan University (TU) has identified around 450 professors and employees who allegedly misused study leave, while only about 17 percent have so far repaid money owed to the university.
According to a report submitted to TU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Bhola Thapa by the Study Leave Management Implementation Committee, the university has recovered Rs 167.1 million from 77 individuals.
The committee said the accounts of another 18 people, involving around Rs 44 million, have been calculated but the money has not yet been recovered. Around 40 professors and employees are also in the process of making repayments.
The latest figures mean that only about 17 percent of the 450 professors and employees identified in the study-leave cases have repaid the money, while around 83 percent have yet to settle their dues.
How did the study leave misuse come to light?
TU formed an investigation committee under Dr Jeevan Kafle after reports emerged that some professors who had gone abroad on study leave had failed to return to the university.
The committee initially examined 398 cases and later identified around 50 additional files, bringing the total number of professors and employees found to have misused study leave to approximately 450.
The committee found that around 250 professors and employees went abroad on study leave but did not return, while another 200 returned without completing their studies.
TU begins recovery of study leave payments
After the investigation, TU established a Study Leave Management Implementation Committee under Kafle to recover money from those who had failed to fulfil their obligations.
The committee was formed on August 13, 2025, with a one-year mandate. It began the recovery process after its formation and has now submitted its report following the completion of its term.
Committee coordinator Kafle said the recovery process was complicated by the absence of a clear decision on how to deal with individuals who returned to the university without completing their studies.
According to him, the lack of clarity over how much should be recovered from such individuals prevented some cases from moving forward.
What do TU’s rules say?
Under TU’s Teachers and Employees Service Rules 2050 BS, teachers who take more than three years and up to five years of study leave are required to serve the university for at least five years after returning.
Those who take three years of study leave must serve the university for at least three years after their return.
Teachers and employees who fail to return after completing their study leave are required to repay the salary and allowances received from the university during the leave period, along with 10 percent interest, according to the undertaking signed before taking leave.
However, TU found that some employees resigned without repaying the money and remained abroad.
Many of those who took study leave travelled to countries including the United States, Australia and Canada. Some went on scholarships, while others travelled using their own funds. The university has also found cases where individuals obtained permanent residency abroad after their study leave ended.
Registrar’s Office to handle remaining cases
With the committee’s mandate completed, the remaining recovery process will now be handled by the TU Registrar’s Office.
TU Registrar Rabindra Shiwakoti said the university would give professors and employees who have not yet contacted the university time until mid-January to settle the outstanding amounts.
A help desk with four employees has also been established at the Registrar’s Office to handle cases involving both teachers and employees.
The university has also been urged to introduce policy changes to make the study leave system more systematic and strengthen monitoring of employees receiving the facility.
TU provides paid study leave to help develop qualified and research-oriented academic staff. However, the university says cases in which employees fail to return or do not fulfil their required service obligations have created financial and academic challenges.
The university is continuing efforts to recover the outstanding amounts and strengthen the system for managing study leave in the future.