Prime Minister’s Office Collects Names of Officials Removed Following Political Appointments
April 19, Kathmandu – Following the certification of the ordinance related to the removal of public officials by the President, the names of individuals politically appointed in various institutions have been submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office. According to sources in Singha Durbar, the lists have been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office department-wise. Currently, the Prime Minister’s Office is in the process of sorting these names. “Names of all persons appointed by each ministry have been received at the Prime Minister’s Office,” an official confirmed.
With the ordinance now in effect, discussions are underway on whether to send letters to those individuals to request their resignation or to consider their appointments automatically revoked. Some appointed officials were preparing to resign on Saturday and had even held collective meetings. However, after President Ram Chandra Paudel promulgated the ordinance, those officials have reconsidered resigning. “We had a collective meeting to decide on resignations, but then we received news of the ordinance being issued by the President. After that, resignation no longer seemed appropriate,” said an official from a university. “We have also received notifications that letters from the Prime Minister’s Office will be forthcoming.”
On Saturday, President Paudel issued Ordinance 2083, which amends several Nepal Acts concerning the Health Science Institute, establishes special provisions on the removal of public officials, and modifies some university-related Nepal Acts. University officials have been resigning en masse. Several university officials had already resigned before the ordinance’s promulgation. Professor Dr. Devaraj Adhikari, Chairperson of the University Grants Commission, also resigned before the ordinance was issued, informing that he stepped down on Friday. Appointed in Magh 2079 (January–February 2023), he said, “I resigned yesterday before the ordinance was issued.” Additionally, Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University, Professor Dr. Deepak Aryal, along with other officials, have tendered their resignations. On April 17, Vice-Chancellor Aryal, Education Director Professor Dr. Khadga KC, and Registrar Professor Dr. Kedar Prasad Rizal all resigned. At the time of reporting, Dr. Dhaneshwar Nepal, Vice-Chancellor of Sanskrit University, also resigned on Friday. Furthermore, Professor Dr. Dhanshyam Bhattarai, Chairperson of the TU Service Commission, has resigned as well.
