Supreme Court Sharad Ojha’s Interim Order: Roadblocks Cleared For New NIA Chairman Appointment
2nd January 2026, Kathmandu
The Supreme Court of Nepal has issued a decisive ruling, effectively ending the legal stalemate surrounding the leadership of the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA).
Supreme Court Sharad Ojha’s Interim Order
On Sunday, February 1, 2026, a joint bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Tek Prasad Dhungana vacated the short-term interim order previously granted to the controversial former chairman, Sharad Ojha.
This ruling serves as a major setback for Ojha’s plans to return to the Authority and officially clears the path for the government to appoint a permanent successor.
The Court’s Verdict: No Legal Basis to Halt Appointment
The court addressed the petitioner’s claim that the government’s investigation committee was formed unlawfully. However, the bench noted that such questions should be resolved during the final hearing of the writ petition rather than through a stay order.
The court’s order stated:
“It does not seem appropriate to issue an interim order to stay the decisions and activities carried out as per the report of the committee… Therefore, the short-term interim order issued on September 8, 2025 (Bhadra 23, 2082) does not need to be continued. Proceed according to the law.”
Break in Sharad Ojha’s Return Strategy
Sharad Ojha was dismissed from his post after an investigation committee, led by a former High Court judge, found that he had allegedly submitted fraudulent documents, specifically fake work experience certificates,s to meet the high-level managerial requirements of the Insurance Act.
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Ojha had managed to temporarily return to his office on September 16, 2025, after a single bench issued a short-term stay. However, Sunday’s ruling effectively “breaks” his legal strategy to hold onto the position, as the government is no longer barred from finalizing a new recruitment process.
Current Leadership and Next Steps
In the interim, the Nepalese government has taken steps to ensure stability in the regulatory body:
Acting Leadership: On January 26, 2026, the Cabinet appointed Chandrakala Poudel (Secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs) to handle the daily operations of the NIA Chairman until a permanent appointment is made.
The Candidates: A three-member recommendation committee, led by National Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Prof. Dr. Shivraj Adhikari, is currently reviewing 14 high-profile applications.
With the legal hurdle removed, the committee is expected to shortlist three names and recommend them to the Cabinet for the final appointment of the new NIA Chairman.
For more: Supreme Court Sharad Ojha’s Interim
