Prime Minister and Chancellor Balendra Shah appointed Prof. Sujan Babu Marahatta as Purbanchal University's new Vice-Chancellor on Asar 19, 2083 (July 3, 2026), picking him from a three-name shortlist after one of the largest and most contested applicant pools in this round of appointments. Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel administered his oath of office and secrecy the same day at the Ministry.
| New Vice-Chancellor | Prof. Sujan Babu Marahatta |
| Appointed | Asar 19, 2083 (July 3, 2026) |
| Selection process | Open competition; 34–38 applicants (reports vary slightly) for the Purbanchal VC post |
| Outgoing VC | Biju Kumar Thapaliya (removed by ordinance, May 2, 2026; later served as caretaker VC) |
On Asar 22, 2083, Prof. Dr. Sujan Babu Marahatta formally assumed office as the Vice-Chancellor of Purbanchal University during a ceremony held at the university's central office in Gothgaun. University officials and staff from the central office attended the programme.
The appointment letter was read at the beginning of the ceremony, after which outgoing Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Biju Kumar Thapaliya formally handed over the office to Prof. Dr. Marahatta.
Registrar Dr. Ramesh Babu Kafle and outgoing Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Thapaliya welcomed the new Vice-Chancellor and wished him a successful tenure. The university also formally bid farewell to Prof. Dr. Thapaliya in recognition of his service. During the farewell programme, Controller of Examinations Prof. Balendu Hamal, Dean of the Faculty of Management Prof. Dr. Uttam Kumar Regmi, and Registrar Dr. Kafle recalled Prof. Thapaliya's contributions to the university's academic and institutional development and pledged their full cooperation with the new leadership.
Assuming office, Prof. Dr. Marahatta said he is fully committed to transforming Purbanchal University into a modern, technology-friendly, and high-quality centre of higher education. He identified the timely conduct of examinations and publication of results through a well-managed academic calendar as one of his immediate priorities.
He thanked Chancellor and Prime Minister Balendra Shah for entrusting him with the responsibility and said he would continue the university's positive initiatives while introducing new reforms in line with the evolving needs of higher education. He also pledged to strengthen institutional governance, promote research-based education, and work collaboratively with faculty members, university officials, staff, and students for the university's overall development.
Background: Who is Sujan Babu Marahatta?
Prof. Marahatta comes to Purbanchal University from Nepal Open University, where he was a professor, and from a earlier stint as Director at the Medical Education Commission (MEC). His candidacy stood out in a large and competitive field: Purbanchal University's vacant VC post drew applications from academics and administrators across Madhesh Province and western Nepal, including sitting professors, former commission officials, and educationists from Biratnagar and beyond.
A notably contested selection process
The race for Purbanchal's VC post drew local attention for an unusual twist: the university's own caretaker (acting) Vice-Chancellor at the time, Prof. Dr. Biju Kumar Thapaliya filed his application at the last moment. Because Thapaliya was simultaneously overseeing the university in an acting capacity while also competing for the permanent post, several professors publicly questioned the fairness of the process, with some describing it as "the referee becoming a player."
In total, 34 people applied for the position, including Dilip Prasad Poudel, Ram Dayal Yadav, Nanda Kishor Sah, Ram Mallik, Ranarayan Yadav, Qadir Alam, Mukhtar Ansari, Binod Kumar Yadav, Krishna Prasad Pandey, Sujan Babu Marhattha, Dhruba Lal Pandey, Madhav Lamsal, Umesh Kumar Acharya, and Janardan Lamichhane.
The Selection and Recommendation Committee, chaired by Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel, shortlisted candidates, conducted presentations and interviews, and ultimately recommended three names to Chancellor Balendra Shah, who appointed Marahatta.
The predecessor: how the previous leadership left
Purbanchal University's Vice-Chancellor, Biju Kumar Thapaliya, was removed from office (along with the university's Registrar and other senior office-holders) under the government's May 2, 2026 ordinance targeting politically appointed office-holders across the education sector. Rather than departing the university altogether, Thapaliya subsequently took on the role of caretaker/acting Vice-Chancellor during the open-competition process.
Faculty representatives note a long-running pattern in Purbanchal University's leadership history. For roughly 15 years, the university's top appointments were effectively decided through political power-sharing among parties rather than open competition; the exact dynamic the 2026 reforms are intended to end.
