Kathmandu: Nepal has abruptly removed 1,594 government officials who held senior responsibilities across sectors including education, health and civil aviation, all in a single day.
The shake-up follows political changes set in motion after large youth-led protests in September last year, which led to the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and his ministers. Under an interim government headed by former Supreme Court judge Sushila Karki, a general election was held on March 5.
The National Freedom Party, led by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, won the election and formed the government. Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s young prime minister on March 27.
In the latest move, President Ramchandra Paudel issued an emergency ordinance—on the prime minister’s recommendation—creating special provisions to dismiss government employees. The ordinance declared invalid all government appointments deemed politically motivated and made before March 26.
As a result, 1,594 officials appointed to top posts were dismissed on Saturday, leaving several key public-sector institutions struggling without senior leadership.
