Government Dismisses 1,594 Political Appointees

Kathmandu. The government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah has dismissed a large number of political appointees at once with the objective of administrative strengthening and giving new momentum to state bodies. 

Following the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the 'Special Arrangement Ordinance on Dismissal of Public Office Bearers, 2083', resulting in the collective dismissal of a total of 1,594 office bearers appointed under various acts and structures. 

The biggest impact of this ordinance has been seen in the education and university sector. As many as 23 individuals, including chairpersons and members of various committees and the Teacher Service Commission under the Education Act, 2028, have lost their positions, while 28 individuals, including the Vice-Chancellor and service commission officials of Nepal Sanskrit University, have been dismissed. 

The positions of 17 office bearers under the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) and 34 office bearers of the National Youth Council have also become vacant. 

Prestigious and old universities of the country have not been spared by this decision. As many as 25 individuals, including the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of Kathmandu University, and 84 individuals, including the Vice-Chancellor and service commission officials of Tribhuvan University, have been dismissed. 

The positions of 8 individuals, including the Chairperson and members of the University Grants Commission, and 69 individuals, including the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of Purbanchal University, have also been revoked. Similarly, 50 office bearers of Pokhara University and 44 office bearers of Lumbini Buddhist University have retired simultaneously. 

The ordinance has also targeted political appointments in new and technical universities. The positions of 27 office bearers of Sudurpashchim University and 26 office bearers of Mid-Western University have become vacant. As many as 22 office bearers of Agriculture and Forestry University, 24 of Nepal Open University, 39 of Rajarshi Janak University, and 24 office bearers of Madan Bhandari University are also on the list of dismissed individuals.