Government Appoints New Leadership to Only 20% of Boards and Institutions

Kathmandu. The government has been able to appoint new leadership to only about 20 percent of various boards, committees, and institutions, even after removing office bearers (politically appointed) through an ordinance.

President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the Special Arrangement Ordinance on the Removal of Public Office Bearers, 2083, on Jestha 19, which simultaneously removed the leadership and members of 110 bodies. A total of 1,594 individuals were removed from their positions.

With various boards, committees, and institutions becoming leaderless, the government has been carrying out work by assigning the responsibility of acting or interim chief to joint secretaries of the concerned ministries or senior employees of the respective institutions to ensure continuity.

Although leadership has been appointed to about 20 percent of the bodies so far, 80 percent of such positions remain vacant. The government has not been able to complete the appointment process in all bodies even after three months have passed since it removed 1,594 individuals from 110 bodies through the ordinance.

With the appointment of Maheshwar Bhakta Shrestha as the Chairman of Nepal Airlines Corporation through a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, the heads of 11 bodies have now been appointed. The Vice-Chancellors of 6 health institutes and 7 universities have also been appointed. Many important bodies are still being run by interim officials.

• Appointment Process Still Pending in Bodies Under the Ministry of Agriculture

The appointments in 4 positions under the Ministry of Agriculture were revoked. These included the National Seed Bank Committee, Agricultural Research Council, National Dairy Development Board, and National Tea and Coffee Development Board.

Minister of Agriculture Gita Chaudhary has not yet initiated the process for appointing office bearers to these bodies.

Office Bearers Appointed to Various Vacated Bodies

1. Nepal Airlines Corporation – Chairman Maheshwar Bhakta Shrestha

2. Gorkhapatra Sansthan – General Manager Hikmat Bahadur Rawal

3. Teachers Service Commission – Chairman Kishor Thapa

4. National Trust for Nature Conservation – Member Secretary – Dr. Chirinjivi Prasad Pokharel

5. Pashupati Area Development Trust – Member Secretary Tirtha Shrestha

6. Press Council – Chairman Umesh Shrestha

7. Telecommunications Authority – Chairman – Arjun Ghimire

8. Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal – Director General Mukesh Dangol

9. Securities Board – Chairman Dr. Gopal Bhatta

10. Railway Board – Managing Director Paribesh Parajuli

11. Authority-Empowered Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee – Chairman Dr. Anand Singh Bhat

Vice-Chancellors Appointed to 6 Health Science Institutes

• BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences – Vice-Chancellor Dr. Smriti Karki
• Patan Institute of Health Sciences – Vice-Chancellor Navisaman Singh Pradhan
• Karnali Institute of Health Sciences – Vice-Chancellor Dr. Suryaman Menyangba
• Pokhara Institute of Health Sciences – Vice-Chancellor Dr. Narayansingh Gurung
• Rapti Institute of Health Sciences – Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ajaykumar Mishra

Vice-Chancellors Appointed to Seven Universities

• Tribhuvan University – Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa
• Far-Western University – Kisan Dutt Bhatta
• Mid-Western University – Rajan Suwal
• Agriculture and Forestry University – Rishiraj Kattel
• Eastern University – Sujanbabu Marhatuta
• Pokhara University – Devendra Adhikari
• Rajrishi Janak University – Shyamnarayan Labh

Bodies for Which Appointment Process Has Started

• Nepal Tourism Board
• National Cooperative Regulation Authority
• Investment Board
• Insurance Authority –
• Electricity Regulation Commission

Bodies Where Other Appointment Processes Have Not Progressed

• National News Agency
• Employee Provident Fund
• Nepali Language Publication Institute
• Film Censor Board
• Guthi Sansthan and its committees
• Nepal Administrative Staff College
• Nepal Electricity Authority
• Lumbini Development Trust
• Nepal Sanskrit University
• Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training
• Ayurvedic Medical Council
• Kathmandu Valley Development Authority
• National Seed Bank Committee
• Nepal Water Supply Corporation
• Nepal Health Science Institute
• Citizen Investment Trust
• Nepal Academy of Science and Technology
• Agricultural Research Council
• National Dairy Development Board
• Kathmandu University
• National Tea and Coffee Development Board
• Breastfeeding Promotion and Support Committee
• Local Development Training Institute
• Social Welfare Council
• University Grants Commission
• Nepal Scouts
• Journalist Minimum Wage Determination Committee
• Nepal Nursing Council
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal
• Nepal Health Professionals Council
• Executive Director of Urban Development Fund
• Industrial Business Development Institute
• International Financial Transaction Promotion Committee
• Building Construction and Management Strengthening Committee
• Nepal Engineering Council
• Nepal Veterinary Council
• Greater Janakpur Area Development Council
• Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center
• Nepal Pharmacy Council
• National Foundation for the Upliftment of Indigenous Nationalities
• Road Board
• Competition Promotion and Market Protection Board
• Information Technology Tribunal and its Appellate Tribunal
• Lumbini Buddhist University
• National Medical Education Institute
• Public Procurement Review Committee
• Information Commission
• Foreign Employment Promotion Board
• Seed Quarantine Committee
• Nepal Trust Board of Directors
• Nepal Academy of Fine Arts
• Nepal Academy of Music and Drama
• Nepal Academy
• Commission for Investigation of Enforced Disappearances
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• National Youth Council
• Nepal Open University
• Deposit and Credit Security Fund Management Committee
• Special Economic Zone Authority
• Central Labor Advisory Council
• Social Security Fund
• Disaster Management Authority
• Health Insurance Board
• National Disability Steering Committee
• National Public Health Committee
• Nepal Medical Council
• National Medical Education Commission
• Pesticide Management Committee
• National Council for Environment Protection and Climate Change Management
• Industrial and Investment Promotion Board
• Federal Land Use Council
• Advertising Board
• Atomic Research Center
• National Sports Council
• Bidushi Yogmaya Himalayan Ayurveda University
• Nepal Accreditation Center
• Animal Health and Animal Services Council
• Madan Bhandari University
• Food Hygiene and Quality Recommendation Committee
• Shahid Dasharath Chand Health Science University