Government Dismisses Political Appointments in Regulatory Bodies

Kathmandu. Prime Minister Balendra Shah-led government has dismissed political appointments in regulatory bodies of energy, infrastructure, and financial sectors. 

Following the Cabinet's recommendation, President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the 'Special Arrangement Ordinance for Removal from Public Office, 2083', leading to the dismissal of 1,594 officials from influential bodies across the country. 

This government action has left strategic institutions such as the Nepal Electricity Authority, Employees Provident Fund, Securities Board of Nepal, and Investment Board leaderless. The ordinance has had the biggest impact on the energy and infrastructure sectors. 

Six officials, including the Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, have been dismissed simultaneously. Similarly, the positions of 4 officials from the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, 6 from the Nepal Water Supply Corporation, and 6 from the Urban Development Fund have also become vacant. 

The government has also sent home 10 officials, including administrators from the Road Board, Electricity Regulatory Commission, and Nepal Railway. The government's preparation is to make new appointments in these bodies based on expertise. 

Balen government has also carried out a major 'surgical strike' in financial and regulatory bodies. The positions of 8 officials from the Employees Provident Fund and 3 from the Citizen Investment Fund have been revoked. 15 officials from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN), 1 from the Securities Board, and 3 from the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Corporation have been dismissed. 

3 officials from the Public Procurement Review Committee, 6 under the Competition Promotion and Market Protection Act, and 5 officials from the Industrial Business Development Foundation are also on this list. 

The ordinance has not spared high-ranking officials in the cooperative and investment sectors. 8 officials appointed under the Cooperative Act, which regulates the crisis-ridden cooperative sector, and 4 officials from the Public-Private Partnership and Investment Board have been dismissed. The positions of 1 official from the Special Economic Zone (SEZ), 2 under the Insurance Act, and 6 officials under the Accreditation Act have also been revoked.