Jul 12, Kathmandu - Tribhuvan University's Independent Student Union (ISU) presidents have objected to the meeting of the Tribhuvan University Assembly being held without student representation and prior notice.

The presidents of the ISU from 17 different campuses issued a joint statement on Thursday, expressing their objections to the meeting being held without student representation and prior notice.

Since there is still no clear legal provision regarding who can be represented in the ISU Assembly, they have been demanding that such representation should be through open competition or some form of election, so that all elected presidents have the right to it.

They say that the devaluation of the presidents who have continuously raised their voices for intellectual freedom and democratic processes while ensuring student rights is completely un-academic, autocratic and regrettable.

Stating that there is no option but to rectify this immediately, they have demanded that the upcoming Senate be formed only in a way that addresses open competition or any method of election process and only then hold a meeting of the assembly.

"Until now, the TU Executive Council has been acting in an opaque and arbitrary manner, recommending the presidents of the student unions to be nominated by the Chancellor and the Prime Minister, and representing them in the bodies that determine the future of millions of students, not only in the TU Assembly but also in the Student Welfare Council, without making any rules, selection system or procedures. This has not only been irresponsible and tragic, but has also undermined the rights of students and elected presidents," the statement said.

They have warned that they will be forced to adopt legal and protest routes to address this issue.