Tribhuvan University’s Land and Property Mismanagement Report
The government report has revealed that Tribhuvan University, the oldest and largest university in the country, has failed to manage its movable and immovable properties properly.
The “Tribhuvan University Land and Property Investigation Committee Report, 2081” disclosed that the university does not even have a clear record of how much land and infrastructure it owns.
Major Land Allocations
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TU owns 5,218 ropani of land across Nepal.
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Of this, 125 ropani in Naikap is yet to be officially registered.
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Around 843 ropani of land has been under long-term control of various government and non-government institutions.
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Republic Memorial: 60 ropani
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BP Koirala Planetarium: 160 ropani
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Agriculture and Horticulture Center: 281 ropani
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Ayurveda Research and Training Center: 25 ropani
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Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water Board: 107 ropani
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Police Circles (Kirtipur & Kalimati): 9 ropani total
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Nepal Professors’ Association, Global IME Bank, Lions Club International, Nepal Bank, and Cricket Stadium: 76 ropani 4 aana
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Laboratory School: 108 ropani
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Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh: 10 ropani (leased for 20 years)
The Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology made the report public on Sunday, 12 October 2025, following a Cabinet decision that instructed the ministry to officially release it. According to the report, eighteen private and religious institutions have been using the university’s land under various arrangements.
The investigation found that some university officials and employees, in collusion with other parties, allowed these lands to be used by different interest groups without authorization. The report states that Tribhuvan University owns a total of 5,218 ropani of land, of which the land registration for 125 ropani in Naikap is yet to be finalized. Among these, 843 ropani of land have long been used by various government and non-government institutions. Some of the land is still being used without the university’s consent.
According to the report, 60 ropani were allocated to the Republic Memorial, 160 ropani to the BP Koirala Planetarium, 281 ropani to the Agriculture and Horticulture Center, and 25 ropani to the Ayurveda Research and Training Center at different times. Similarly, the Kathmandu Valley Drinking Water Management Board was provided 107 ropani, Metropolitan Police Circle Kirtipur received five ropani, and Metropolitan Police Circle Kalimati got four ropani within the university premises for branch expansion. The Nepal Professors’ Association obtained six ropani and twelve aana, while Global IME Bank, Cricket Stadium, Lions Club International, and Nepal Bank altogether received 76 ropani and four aana of land from the university.
In 2072 BS, Laboratory Secondary School was given 108 ropani, and the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh was provided 10 ropani of land for twenty years of use.
However, the report mentions that the Laboratory School submitted an application to the Kalanki Land Revenue Office to register the land in its own name without the university’s consent. The report confirmed through older records that the land legally belongs to Tribhuvan University. The committee described the Laboratory School’s request to transfer ownership as illegal and recommended action against those involved in allowing the school to use the land without proper approval. The committee also suggested that the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority should investigate and take action against the guilty parties.
The report further revealed that, according to a 2013 BS notice published in the Nepal Gazette after the university’s establishment, Tribhuvan University owns land not only within the current campus area but also in Balkhu, Lubhu of Lalitpur, and other places. However, current university officials are unaware of the details of these lands. The report clearly stated that the main reason for such disorderly property management is the negligence of university officials.
The investigation concluded that responsible officials of the university failed to maintain proper records of the land and, even where some records existed, they were kept carelessly. The lack of coordination between the university and other government bodies responsible for land protection has also allowed external entities to use or encroach upon the property. The report added that even after the expiry of lease agreements, the university leadership made no effort to reclaim the land.
The report identified that the lack of coordination among top university officials—including the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Rector, and Registrar—has worsened the issue. Although existing laws require these officials and the Executive Council to safeguard, utilize, and manage the university’s properties, the report noted that they failed to fulfill their expected responsibilities.
The committee highlighted that arbitrary decisions by decision-makers, non-compliance with established rules, and politically appointed officials have contributed to poor management and misuse of university property. It recommended that Tribhuvan University should prepare short-term and long-term plans to protect and utilize its land and assets effectively.
Committee member Janak Ballav Adhikari stated that even after sixty-five years of establishment, the university leadership has failed to produce accurate data on the status and condition of its properties.
The investigation committee was formed on 2081 Jestha 17 under the coordination of former Secretary Sharada Prasad Trital. The committee submitted its report to the government in 2081 Poush after five months of investigation and study. At the time of committee formation, Sumana Shrestha from the Rastriya Swatantra Party was the Minister of Education, Science, and Technology, while Vidya Bhattarai from the CPN-UML held the position when the report was submitted. The ministry has stated that it will immediately move forward with the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
Key Findings
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No Clear Property Record: Tribhuvan University (TU) lacks verified data on how much land and infrastructure it owns, showing serious administrative negligence.
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Large Land Ownership: TU owns 5,218 ropani of land, but a portion remains unregistered and unmanaged, including 125 ropani in Naikap.
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Unauthorized Use: Eighteen private and religious institutions are using TU’s land without legal authorization or proper agreements.
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Collusion and Misuse: The report found internal collusion among TU officials and staff, enabling misuse and illegal occupation of university property.
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Major Allocations: Large portions of land were provided to various public and private entities, including the Republic Memorial, BP Koirala Planetarium, and others.
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Illegal Registration Attempt: Laboratory Secondary School attempted to register TU-owned land under its name without consent—deemed illegal by the committee.
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Weak Leadership and Coordination: The failure of senior university leadership to maintain records, coordinate actions, or reclaim expired leases caused long-term property mismanagement.
