KATHMANDU, May 3: President Ramchandra Paudel has issued the “Ordinance on Special Provisions for the Removal of Public Office Bearers, 2083,” on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, triggering one of the largest single-round dismissals in recent administrative history.
With this move, the government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah aims to tighten administrative efficiency and inject new momentum into state institutions. The ordinance clears out a total of 1,594 politically appointed office bearers across a wide range of sectors, leaving their positions vacant for fresh appointments.
Media, aviation and communication sector
Several key positions in state media and communication bodies have been vacated. Under the Nepal Airlines Corporation Act, 2019, seven officials, including the chairperson, vice-chairperson, board members and managing director, have been removed. The National News Agency (RSS) Act has led to the removal of two board members, while three officials, including the chairperson, from Gorkhapatra Corporation have also been dismissed.
In the film sector, three members of the Film Development Board have been relieved of their duties. Two officials from communication institutions and ten from the Press Council, including the chairperson and members, have also lost their posts. Six officials appointed under the Working Journalists Act have similarly been removed.
The ordinance has also affected regulatory bodies. Five officials from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority and four from the Civil Aviation Authority have been dismissed. In the IT and information sector, six officials from tribunals formed under the Electronic Transactions Act and three information commissioners have been removed.
Likewise, six officials from the Advertising Board, three from the Security Printing framework, and 15 from the Public Service Broadcasting structure have been dismissed.
Education and university sector
The shake-up extends deeply into the education sector. A total of 23 officials, including members of various committees and the Teacher Service Commission, have been removed under the Education Act.
Universities have seen sweeping changes. Nepal Sanskrit University has lost 28 officials, including the vice-chancellor and service commission members. Seventeen officials from the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training have also been dismissed, along with 34 from the National Youth Council.
Padlocks on TU office bearers' offices removed
Kathmandu University has seen 25 officials removed, while Tribhuvan University has lost 84 office bearers, including top leadership and commission members. Eight officials from the University Grants Commission and 69 from Purbanchal University have also been dismissed.
Further, 50 officials from Pokhara University, 44 from Lumbini Buddhist University, 27 from Far-Western University and 26 from Mid-Western University have been removed. Other institutions affected include Agriculture and Forestry University with 22 officials, Nepal Open University with 24, Rajarshi Janak University with 39, and Madan Bhandari University with 24.
Health, medical and science sector
The ordinance has also reshaped the health sector. Six officials from the Ayurveda Medical Council and nine from the Nepal Health Research Council have been removed. Five officials from the Veterinary Council have also been dismissed.
Fifteen officials from BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences and five linked to regulatory mechanisms on breast milk substitutes have been relieved. Eight officials from the Nursing Council and five from the Health Professional Council have also been removed.
Ten officials from BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital and eight from Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre have lost their positions. Seven officials from the Pharmacy Council and 22 from the National Academy of Medical Sciences have also been dismissed.
Similarly, 33 officials from Patan Academy of Health Sciences, 34 from Karnali Academy, 31 each from Pokhara and Rapti health academies have been removed.
Seven officials under the Health Insurance Act, six under the Public Health Act, eight from the Nepal Medical Council, and 16 from the Medical Education Commission have also been dismissed.
Newer institutions have not been spared. Forty-two officials from Yogmaya Ayurveda University and 29 from Shahid Dasharath Chand Health Sciences University have also been removed.
Energy, infrastructure, finance and regulatory bodies
Six officials from the Nepal Electricity Authority and four from the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority have been dismissed. Six each from the Nepal Water Supply Corporation and Town Development Fund have also been removed.
Other affected bodies include the Road Board with four officials, the Electricity Regulatory Commission with five, and Nepal Railways with five.
In the financial sector, eight officials from the Employees Provident Fund and three from the Citizen Investment Trust have been removed. Fifteen officials from the Institute of Chartered Accountants and five from the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute have also lost their posts.
Three officials from international financial bodies and one from the securities sector have been dismissed. Six officials from the Competition Promotion and Market Protection Board and three from the Public Procurement Review Committee have also been removed.
Further, three officials from the Deposit and Credit Guarantee Fund, one from the Special Economic Zone, eight from cooperatives, and four from public-private partnership bodies have been dismissed.
Appointments under the Industrial Enterprises Act, Insurance Act and Accreditation Act have also been affected, removing several more officials.
Agriculture, environment and social sector
Eight members under the Seeds Act and nine officials from the Nepal Agricultural Research Council have been removed. Seven officials each from the Dairy Development Board and Tea and Coffee Development Board have also been dismissed.
Three officials from the Veterinary Council and five from the Plant Quarantine system have lost their posts. Six officials from pesticide management and five from environmental protection bodies have also been removed.
Seven officials from the Food Safety and Quality framework have also been dismissed.
In cultural and heritage institutions, nine officials from the Nepal Academy of Language Publication and ten from the Guthi Corporation have been removed. Eleven officials from the Lumbini Development Trust and nine from the Pashupati Area Development Trust have also been dismissed.
Forty-nine officials from the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and 33 from Nepal Scouts have lost their positions. Sixteen officials from the Greater Janakpur Development Council and 25 from the National Foundation for Indigenous Nationalities have also been removed.
Sixty nominated members under Indigenous councils and dozens more from fine arts, music, drama and national academies have also been dismissed.
Administrative and social governance bodies
Four officials from the Nepal Administrative Staff College and one from the Local Development Training Academy have been removed. Ten officials from the Social Welfare Council and 14 from the Nepal Engineering Council have also been dismissed.
Ten officials linked to foreign employment and three from Nepal Trust have lost their posts. Five officials from transitional justice bodies have also been removed.
Ten officials under the Labour Act and seven under the Social Security Act have been dismissed. Four officials from disaster management bodies and 17 from disability rights institutions have also been removed.
Additional removals include officials from land use, radioactive substance regulation and national sports bodies.
In total, 1,594 office bearers have been dismissed through the ordinance. The government now plans to move quickly to fill these vacant positions through a new appointment process.
