NTA Chairperson and Board Members Removed Following New Ordinance
4th May 2026, Kathmandu
In a historic move aimed at overhauling state administration, the Government of Nepal has officially relieved 1,594 public officials of their duties.
NTA Chairperson Board Members Removed
The sweeping change comes after President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the “Ordinance on Special Provisions for the Removal of Public Office-bearers, 2083” on the recommendation of the Prime Minister Balen Shah-led cabinet.
NTA Leadership Dissolved
The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), the country’s tech regulator, is among the hardest-hit institutions. Under the new legal framework, the appointments of the Chairperson and all board members have been revoked.
The removed NTA officials include:
Bhupendra Bhandari (Chairperson)
Rabindra Jha (Member)
Gokarna Prasad Sitaula (Member)
Krishna Prasad Pokhrel (Member)
Navraj Adhikari (Member)
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According to the ordinance, these positions originally appointed under the Telecommunications Act, 2053 are now vacant. The government cites the need to remove “political patronage” and shift toward a merit-based governance model.
Scope of the Ordinance: 110 Laws Amended
This is not an isolated incident. The ordinance amends over 110 different laws, creating a massive leadership vacuum across 108 state-owned organizations. The “cleansing” of political appointees extends to every major sector:
| Sector | Key Institutions Affected |
| Communication & Media | NTA, Press Council Nepal, Gorkhapatra Corporation, RSS, Film Censorship Board. |
| Education | Tribhuvan University (TU), Kathmandu University (KU), Teachers Service Commission. |
| Energy & Infrastructure | Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN), Nepal Railways. |
| Finance | Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), Citizen Investment Trust (CIT), Employees Provident Fund. |
| Health | Nepal Medical Council, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nursing Council. |
The Legal Standpoint: Closing the Door to Courts
Legal experts suggest this move is tactically different from previous dismissals. Typically, removed officials would challenge their dismissal in the Supreme Court, often winning interim orders for reinstatement.
However, by using an Ordinance to amend the primary Acts under which these officials were appointed, the government has narrowed the scope for judicial intervention. Since the law itself now dictates the termination of these specific roles, “reinstatement” becomes legally complex.
“Cabinet decisions for these roles are fundamentally political. If the Ordinance amends the specific Acts, the removal is automatic once published in the Nepal Gazette,” Nepal Bar Association.
What’s Next for Nepal’s Institutions?
While the move is celebrated by supporters of the Balen Shah administration as a necessary “reset” following the 2025 protests, critics warn of an immediate administrative “vacuum.”
With nearly 1,600 leadership roles vacant, the government faces the monumental task of appointing qualified, non-partisan professionals to ensure that essential services from telecommunications to healthcare do not grind to a halt.
Stay tuned to local news for updates as the Nepal Gazette officially publishes the full list of vacated positions.
For more: NTA Chairperson Board Members Removed
