Kedar Bahadur Adhikari has been appointed the Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population. He had worked as the joint secretary for two years in the same ministry in the past as well.

The post had been lying vacant after former Secretary Dr Pushpa Chaudhary was summoned to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Later, Chaudhary had filed a writ at the Supreme Court against the government for transferring her to the PMO.

After hearing the writ, the Supreme Court issued an order directing the government to not implement the transfer. Following the Supreme Court’s order, Chaudhary rejoined work at the Ministry of Health and Population.

The government had also filed a writ at the court demanding annulment of the court’s earlier verdict. The court had summoned Chaudhary at the court to discuss the issue.

The government had transferred Dr Chaudhary to the PMO without giving any clear reason behind the move on October 24. Dr Sushil Pyakurel had taken up the role of the Health Secretary after Chaudhary was transferred to the PMO.

It has been learnt that Dr Chaudhary was transferred because of her breach in relations with Health and Population Minister Upendra Yadav. Minister Yadav had supposedly urged Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to find a replacement to Dr Chaudhary, saying that she was uncooperative and made controversial decisions.

A Cabinet meeting held on Monday had decided to appoint Adhikari as the Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population.

According to Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, Adhikari will assume the office from Monday.