Recalled Nepali Ambassadors Draw Salaries Without Work After Being Summoned to Ministry

Kathmandu. The government has assigned various ambassadors recalled from different countries to report to the Ministry, but has not given them any work. Consequently, they are reporting to the ministry, drawing salaries without any assigned duties.

The government formed after the Janji movement had recalled ambassadors from various countries. The recalled ambassadors had filed a case in the Supreme Court against the government's decision. Hearing the case, the Supreme Court issued an interim order allowing them to continue working.

Following this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began having the 11 recalled ambassadors report to the ministry. These returned ambassadors have been drawing salaries and benefits based on attendance for about six months without performing any actual work.

A joint secretary stated, 'After being recalled by the government, they should have returned to their respective homes. Once the government that appointed them ceased to exist, their justification also ended. The Janji government recalling them is tantamount to demanding their resignation.'

Out of the 11, eight have resigned at various times so far. Three ambassadors are still reporting to the ministry and drawing salaries. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, those still reporting and drawing salaries are Dr. Shail Rupa Kheti, Ambassador to Germany; Dhan Prasad Pandit, Nepali Ambassador to Israel; and Sunil Nepal, Nepali Ambassador to Spain. They are receiving secretary-level facilities from the ministry.

Last Friday, Durga Bahadur Subedi, the Nepali Ambassador to Japan, resigned. Prior to this, Ambassador to China Prof. Dr. Krishna Prasad Oli, Ambassador to Malaysia Dr. Netra Prasad Timilsina, Ambassador to Qatar Rameshchandra Paudel, Ambassador to Russia Jang Bahadur Chauhan, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Naresh Bikram Dhakal, Ambassador to the United Kingdom Chandra Kumar Ghimire, and Ambassador to the United States Lokdarshan Regmi had resigned at different times. 

The cabinet meeting on Ashoj 30 recalled them. The government had recalled them with a deadline to arrive in Nepal by Kartik 20. Hearing the writ filed against that decision, the Supreme Court issued an interim order to the government on Kartik 16 not to implement the decision.

However, the very next day, Kartik 17, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent another letter recalling the ambassadors to work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are currently serving as acting ambassadors in place of the recalled ambassadors.

Joint Secretary Sharadraj Aran of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken charge as the acting Nepali Ambassador to the US, while Joint Secretary Roshan Khanal is working as the acting ambassador to China.  

Similarly, Deputy Chief of Mission Sagar Phuyal for Germany, Deputy Chief of Mission Hariharkanta Paudel for Japan, Deputy Chief of Mission Mudita Bajracharya for Malaysia, Deputy Chief of Mission Kumar Rai for Qatar, Deputy Chief of Mission Bipin Ghimire for the UK, Deputy Chief of Mission Sirjana Adhikari for Saudi Arabia, Officer Purak Adhikari serving as Deputy Chief of Mission for Spain, Officer Kumar Bahadur Shrestha serving as Deputy Chief of Mission for Israel, and Attache Kasam Pokharel for Russia have taken charge as acting ambassadors.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs say that they are working more efficiently than their predecessors. Previously, ambassadors appointed based on political recommendations often lacked expertise and could not perform well. Officials state that it is now easier for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as career diplomats are serving as acting ambassadors.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, 'Previously, there used to be a lot of political pressure because of these ambassadors, but that is not the case now. It is easier to work now because they are career officials.'

Ambassadors recommended based on political affiliation are still working in countries such as India and Australia.