Nepal’s newly formed government has moved to nullify more than 1,500 public appointments through a sweeping legal ordinance issued by Ramchandra Paudel, marking one of the most extensive administrative reversals in the country’s recent political history and significantly reshaping its institutional landscape.
The decision targets appointments made before March 26, the date that marked the transition of power following the electoral victory of Balendra Shah and his Rastriya Swatantra Party, which came to power after the March 5 elections. The party’s rise was driven by strong public dissatisfaction with traditional political forces, a sentiment that had already been building since the large-scale youth-led protests in 2025.
The ordinance, formally titled the “Ordinance on Special Provisions for the Removal of Public Office Bearers, 2083,” was approved on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers and has resulted in the termination of approximately 1,594 individuals holding positions across government-linked institutions. The measure automatically voids all appointments made before the leadership change, regardless of tenure or contractual protections, effectively clearing out a broad layer of officials linked to previous administrations.
Authorities have justified the move as an effort to eliminate politically influenced appointments and improve transparency, arguing that earlier governments—particularly the interim administration led by Sushila Karki—had filled key roles based on political considerations rather than merit. However, critics contend that the scale and abruptness of the action risk undermining institutional stability and continuity.
The impact has been immediate and widespread, affecting a range of critical public bodies, including Nepal Electricity Authority, Tribhuvan University, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal Airlines Corporation, and Gorkhapatra Sansthan. These institutions now face leadership vacuums, raising concerns about governance, operational continuity, and service delivery.
Sectors such as healthcare, education, and public administration are expected to experience the most disruption, as the sudden removal of officials has left many organisations without authorised decision-makers, potentially delaying routine functions and critical administrative processes. The absence of a clearly defined roadmap for filling these vacancies has further intensified uncertainty.
Although it is not unusual in Nepal for incoming governments to reassess or reverse decisions made by their predecessors, the breadth of this action is significantly larger than past precedents. While supporters view it as a corrective step toward accountability, opponents warn that without a structured transition plan, it could lead to prolonged instability across key state institutions.
