KATHMANDU, May 4: A group of 28 prominent citizens has issued a strongly worded public appeal accusing the government led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah of undermining democratic norms, violating constitutional provisions, and adopting increasingly authoritarian practices, calling for an immediate halt to what they describe as “arbitrary rule.”
The appeal sharply criticizes recent forced evictions of residents from informal settlements, alleging that the actions were carried out without proper verification, rehabilitation plans, or safeguards for vulnerable populations. According to the statement, the evictions have already resulted in two suicides and left thousands—including pregnant women and children—without shelter, healthcare, or access to education. The signatories argue that such actions violate constitutional guarantees, including the right to housing and protections for marginalized communities, and describe the use of armed security forces, including the national army, against settlement residents as unconstitutional and inhumane. They urge the government to conduct comprehensive data collection and ensure adequate housing alternatives before undertaking any eviction measures.
The statement also raises serious concerns over restrictions on press freedom, alleging that journalists faced barriers when attempting to report on the evictions and conditions in holding centers, with some reportedly forced to delete photos and videos. The signatories warn that such actions undermine the public’s right to information and signal a broader pattern of suppressing dissent. They further highlight what they describe as coordinated online attacks against critics and journalists, contributing to an atmosphere of intimidation and social discord.
Another major concern outlined in the appeal is the government’s increasing reliance on ordinances while bypassing parliamentary processes. The citizens argue that suspending parliamentary sessions and issuing ordinances instead of engaging in legislative debate undermines democratic governance, particularly given the government’s near two-thirds majority. They contend that this approach raises serious constitutional and legal questions and contradicts the principles of accountability and transparency expected in a parliamentary system.
The appeal also strongly opposes reported plans to restrict or ban student unions, trade unions, and professional organizations. Emphasizing that the constitution guarantees freedom of association and expression, the signatories argue that any attempt to curtail these rights would violate both national and international commitments, including labor rights conventions. While acknowledging the issue of politicization within such organizations, they maintain that reform—not prohibition—is the appropriate response.
Further criticism is directed at the government’s removal of hundreds of officials through ordinance, which the statement likens to arbitrary purges reminiscent of autocratic practices. The signatories argue that such actions weaken the rule of law, due process, and institutional integrity, while risking the consolidation of power within a single political force. Concerns are also raised about growing interference in universities, the judiciary, and the autonomy of provincial and local governments, with the appeal warning that these trends point toward increasing centralization and erosion of federalism.
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The group urges the government to immediately halt forced evictions without proper rehabilitation measures, respect parliamentary processes, protect press freedom, uphold constitutional rights to association and organization, and refrain from excessive centralization and interference in independent institutions. They stress that adherence to the constitution “in letter and spirit” is essential to preserving democratic governance.
The appeal has been signed by Nilambar Acharya, Tika Ram Bhattarai, Ramesh Bhattarai, J.B. Biswokarma, Govinda Chhantyal, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, Lyam Bahadur Darji, Kanak Mani Dixit, Laxman Gurung, Binod Lohani, Rajendra Maharjan, Mahesh Maskey, Sabin Ninglekhu, Sharad Onta, Mahendra Pandey, Khagendra Prasai, Sushil Pyakurel, Dovan Rai, Khagendra Sangroula, Laxman Shrestha, Amrita Sharma, Bindu Sharma, Pitambar Sharma, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, Ratna Sansar Shrestha, Chandeshwor Shrestha, Dinesh Tripathi, and Narayan Wagle.
The statement represents one of the most comprehensive public criticisms yet of the current administration, reflecting growing concern among sections of civil society over the direction of governance in Nepal.
Full Text of the Statement
28 Citizens' Appeal
The Balendra Shah Government must immediately halt arbitrary rule
KATHMANDU, May 4: Recent actions of the Prime Minister Balendra Shah Government of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, with its almost two-thirds majority in Parliament, have once again raised questions about its democratic commitment. The sudden eviction of residents from informal settlements at gunpoint, attempts to govern through ordinances outrightly bypassing Parliament, and decisions to impose restrictions on unions and associations indicate a drift toward authoritarianism. In this context, we consider it necessary to publicly express our views and commitments as follows:
Under the pretext of bringing so-called 'unauthorised settlers' within the regulatory framework, the Government’s actions have exposed its discriminatory and dismissive attitude toward the landless and urban poor living in informal settlements. Without proper registration, verification, or ensuring adequate housing and livelihood arrangements, the forced evictions have already led to the suicide of two citizens. Thousands have been left in distress, with pregnant women and newborns deprived of care and a safe environment. With the settlements dismantled at the start of the academic session and schools demolished, children are being deprived of their right to education. This constitutes a grave violation of human rights.
The use of force against residents of informal urban settlements, including the mobilisation of the national army, is both unconstitutional and inhumane. Such actions contradict the promises made by the Rastriya Swatantra Party during the elections, as well as the Governments listed 100 commitments as it assumed office. To recall, Article 37 of the Constitution guarantees the right to housing. Similarly, Article 40 ensures land and housing for landless Dalits, and Article 42 guarantees housing rights for economically disadvantaged and marginalised communities. The directives of state policy also include provisions for housing, cultivable land as well as employment for freed bonded laborers and landless populations. We urge the government to first conduct proper data collection, verification and ensure shelter for residents of informal settlements before proceeding with any eviction.
The displacement carried out by deploying armed security personnel in the darkness—without granting community members adequate time to find shelter, without any dialogue, under CCTV surveillance, with journalists barred from entry—has been misleadingly labeled ‘management’ rather than ‘eviction’. Forcing journalists who visited the so-called ‘holding centers’ to delete photographs and videos and otherwise imposing restrictions on reporting, constitutes a violation of the public’s fundamental right to information and freedom of expression. This modus operandi further reflects the emerging authoritarian character of the Government. When such actions of the authorities are questioned, reporters and critics alike are faced with coordinated and orchestrated attacks on social media. We urge the Government to immediately end its authoritarian drift and to discourage incitement of social discord.
The Government’s practice of introducing ordinances even as it sine die suspending a parliamentary session that it had called demonstrates a troubling disregard for constitutionalism and the parliamentary process. Instead of presenting bills in Parliament and enacting laws through adequate debate and deliberation—as expected of a government backed by a near two-thirds parliamentary majority—the reliance on ordinances undermines both the mandate it has received from the public and the principles of democratic governance. Once the President has convened a parliamentary session, suspending it without even a sitting, and introducing ordinances during such suspension, constitutes an outright violation of constitutional norms and raises serious legal questions. The justification that ordinances are being issued in rapid succession for the sake of efficiency unconvincing and flies in the face of parliamentary propriety. We urge the Government to immediately commence a regular session of Parliament and to pursue lawmaking through due process.
We strongly object to the preparations made by the Government to ban student organisations, trade unions, and other professional associations established on the basis of social commitment and political belief. Article 17(2) of the Constitution of Nepal guarantees freedom of thought and expression, the right to form political parties, and the freedom to establish associations and organisations. Likewise, Convention No. 98 of the International Labour Organisation, to which Nepal is party, ensures the right to organise.
Disregarding these constitutionally guaranteed rights and international conventions, imposing bans on such organisations would constitute a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We urge the Government to refrain from callous activities and to act according to democratic principle.
With reference to student unions, it is true that the partisan influence of political parties have undermined the academic integrity of universities. However, the appropriate remedy is to work to eradicate such distortions—not to violate the democratic right to organise. We are concerned that, under various pretexts, there is a concerted attempt to curtail the constitutional right to organise on the basis of political belief.
In the name of ending politicisation of governmental appointments of the past, the present government’s drastic action of removing hundreds of office-bearers through ordinance—reminiscent of arbitrary purges (‘pajani’) of the autocratic Rana regime—has undermined the rule of law, due process and legal norms. Such actions actually risk paving the way for further politicisation or even one-party control over the polity. As far as the universities are concerned, we are troubled that the simultaneous dismissal of scores of senior faculty and administrators, in violation of institutional autonomy and academic dignity, has further increased governmental interference in higher education.
We are also seriously concerned about attempts to introduce ordinances with the apparent intent of expanding interference in the judiciary. Likewise, the federal government’s direct imposition of directives on provincial and local governments—encroaching upon their jurisdictions a guaranteed by the Constitution—signals a move toward centralised governance and the curtailing of federalism. We are alarmed by the Government’s constitutional violations and restriction of civil liberties, and we urge it to cease such actions and adhere to democratic practice and to adhere to the Constitution in letter and spirit.
Signatories:
Nilambar Acharya
Tika Ram Bhattarai
Ramesh Bhattarai
J.B. Biswokarma
Govinda Chhantyal
Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri
Lyam Bahadur Darji
Kanak Mani Dixit
Laxman Gurung
Binod Lohani
Rajendra Maharjan
Dr. Mahesh Maskey
Sabin Ninglekhu
Dr. Sharad Onta
Mahendra Pandey
Khagendra Prasai
Sushil Pyakurel
Dovan Rai
Khagendra Sangroula
Laxman Shrestha
Amrita Sharma
Bindu Sharma
Pitambar Sharma
Bishnu Pukar Shrestha
Ratna Sansar Shrestha
Chandeshwor Shrestha
Dinesh Tripathi
Narayan Wagle
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