Months after mass removals, hundreds of key public posts remain vacant

Kathmandu, August 25

The government removed 1,594 office-bearers from various boards, committees and public institutions in April, but only around 200 key public posts have been filled so far.

The positions were vacated after the government introduced the Special Provision Ordinance on the Removal of Public Office Bearers, 2026.

The prolonged vacancies have affected the functioning of various state bodies. Work at some commissions has come to a standstill, while institutions with vacant registrar positions have been left without budgets, policies and programmes.

Some appointments have also failed to meet the inclusive representation requirements prescribed by the Constitution and other prevailing laws.

Although the ordinance was introduced with the stated aim of ending political appointments and making public institutions free from political interference, the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has faced allegations of appointing its own party workers to some of the key public posts.

Some appointments have also been overturned by courts over eligibility and procedural issues.

On August 20, the Supreme Court scrapped the appointment of Maheshwar Bhakta Shrestha as executive chairperson of Nepal Airlines Corporation. The court ruled that the decision to appoint a person who had exceeded the prescribed age limit was prima facie unlawful.

Candidates for appointment as executive chairperson are required to meet various qualifications, including being no older than 65.

A joint bench of Justices Sunil Kumar Pokharel and Balkrishna Dhakal overturned the Cabinet’s July 14 decision to appoint Shrestha as executive chairperson with responsibility for the duties of general manager, stating that the appointment did not comply with the relevant legal provision.

This is not the first appointment made under the government led by RSP senior leader Balen Shah to be overturned by the court.

Earlier, the Supreme Court also annulled the appointment of Dr Deepak Prasad Bastola as a member of the Nepal Airlines Corporation board.

On June 12, the court scrapped the decision to appoint Bastola, citing problems with his eligibility and the appointment process. The Minister for Culture and Tourism had appointed Bastola and four others to the corporation’s board on May 14.

Upendra Bahadur Karki had filed a petition challenging the appointment, arguing that the government had disregarded the selection committee’s recommendation, which had ranked him first. The court observed that the minister had made a baseless “pick and choose” decision.

The government has so far filled 198 of the positions that became vacant following the ordinance.

Where and who has been appointed?

Among the appointments made so far are: