The “ordinance on special provisions relating to the removal of public officials from office, 2026”, issued by President Ramchandra Paudel on Saturday, has triggered widespread disruption across Nepal’s administrative, educational, health and public institutional landscape.

Through the ordinance, more than 1,200 officials have been removed from dozens of public entities governed by 110 different laws, in what is being described as one of the most sweeping administrative overhauls in recent years. The provision mandates that all appointments made prior to March 26 are automatically terminated, regardless of tenure, benefits or terms of appointment.

“Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in prevailing laws, public officials appointed and currently holding office in public entities as per the schedule prior to March 26 shall be automatically removed from their respective positions upon the commencement of this ordinance,” the document states.

The decision follows the March 5 elections that brought the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to power with a near two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives. Officials across universities, state-owned enterprises, regulatory bodies, councils, boards, research institutes and media organisations have been dismissed simultaneously, leaving many institutions without leadership.

Immediately after the ordinance was issued, several public bodies—including those in education, healthcare, communication and infrastructure—were left without authorised decision-makers. Key institutions such as the Nepal Electricity Authority, Tribhuvan University, the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, the Nepal Airlines Corporation and the Gorkhapatra Sansthan now face the leadership vacuum.

The impact is expected to be particularly noticeable in sectors such as education, healthcare and public service delivery, where decision-making authority rests with boards, executive heads and policy-level officials. In many cases, routine operations are likely to be disrupted due to the absence of authorised signatories.

The government has yet to spell out a clear timeline or mechanism for fresh appointments. Although a separate ordinance titled “Amendments to Some Nepal Acts” was sent to the Office of the President earlier this week, it does not comprehensively address the appointment process for all affected entities.

Officials at the president’s office said the amendment ordinance, which seeks to revise around 20 laws, is under review and may be issued soon. Concerns have reportedly been raised regarding quorum and decision-making provisions in another ordinance related to the Constitutional Council.

“The appointment provisions for officials removed under the 110 laws are not entirely clear. Another ordinance may be required to complete the process,” an official at the president’s office said.

The ordinance has also invalidated appointments made by the Sushila Karki-led government formed after the ‘Gen Z’ movement last September. However, the leadership of Nepal Rastra Bank remains unaffected, with Governor Biswo Nath Poudel retaining his position. He was appointed on May 20, 2025, by the then coalition government of the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML following prolonged political negotiations.

Under the Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act, 2014, the ordinance has also removed the chairpersons and members of the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Ten officials across the two transitional justice bodies, appointed just a year ago, have been dismissed.

At the Nepal Electricity Authority, Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya and all board members have been removed. Shakya, whose tenure had been marked by political controversy, had resumed office last November following a Supreme Court verdict in his favour after his earlier removal was challenged.

Among other major institutions affected are Nepal Telecommunications Authority, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, Nepal Tourism Board, the Town Development Fund, and the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute.

The ordinance has also led to dismissals at the Rastriya Samachar Samiti, the Employees Provident Fund, the Film Development Board, the Guthi Sansthan, Nepal Administrative Staff College, the Lumbini Development Trust, the Pashupati Area Development Trust, the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, Nepal Water Supply Corporation, the Citizen Investment Trust, the Press Council Nepal, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, the National Dairy Development Board and the National Tea and Coffee Development Board.

Further removals have taken place at the Social Welfare Council, Nepal Scouts, the Minimum Wage Fixation Committee, the Janakpur Area Development Council, the National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities, the Roads Board Nepal, the Securities Board of Nepal, the Public Procurement Review Committee, the Foreign Employment Board, Nepal Academy, the Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Insurance Authority and Security Printing, among others.

Universities and health institutions hit hard

The ordinance has swept away leadership across universities and health science academies, removing vice-chancellors, registrars, deans and other key officials appointed by previous governments.

By amending the Education Act, 1971, the government has revoked the appointments of the chairperson, member-secretary and nominated members of the National Examinations Board. The position of chairperson was already vacant following the completion of Mahashram Sharma’s tenure, while member-secretary Janga Bahadur Aryal has now been removed.

The amendment has also led to the removal of Teachers Service Commission chairperson Madhu Prasad Regmi and members Pabitra Subedi and Ram Sharan Sapkota.

At Tribhuvan University, Vice-chancellor Deepak Aryal, Rector Khadga KC and Registrar Kedar Rijal have been dismissed, along with members of the Senate, Executive Council and Academic Council. With the removal of all nominated members, the university’s Executive Council currently stands without any members.

Kathmandu University has also seen sweeping changes, with Vice-chancellor Achyut Wagle, Registrar Rajeev Shrestha and deans of all seven schools removed. Similarly, Chairperson Dev Raj Adhikari and other members of the University Grants Commission have been dismissed.

Vice-chancellors and registrars of Purbanchal, Pokhara, Nepal Sanskrit, Agriculture and Forestry, Mid-Western, Far-Western, Lumbini Buddhist and Rajarshi Janak universities have all been removed. The ordinance has also affected newer institutions such as Vidushi Yogmaya Himalayan Ayurveda University, the Shahid Dasharath Chand University of Health Sciences and the Madan Bhandari University of Science and Technology.

All major health science academies have also lost their leadership. At the National Academy of Medical Sciences, Vice-chancellor Bhupendra Kumar Basnet and other officials have been removed. At the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Vice-chancellor Bikram Prasad Shrestha, along with the rector, registrar and hospital director, has been dismissed.

Similar changes have taken place at the Patan Academy of Health Sciences, the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences and the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences. Officials at the Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre and the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital have also been removed.

Regulatory bodies such as Nepal Medical Council, Nepal Health Research Council, Nepal Nursing Council, Nepal Pharmacy Council, Nepal Health Professional Council and Nepal Veterinary Council have also been affected.

The ordinance has further cleared leadership at the Nepal Academy, the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts and the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama. At the Nepal Academy, Chancellor Bhupal Rai and Vice-chancellor Bimal Krishna Shrestha are among those removed.

Concerns over governance and continuity

The sweeping dismissals have raised concerns about governance, continuity and service delivery. With decision-making bodies rendered non-functional, experts warn of delays in routine administration and policy implementation.

Bhim Prasad Subedi, former chairperson of the University Grants Commission, said the move could be viewed positively if driven by reform, but warned of practical challenges.

“Such massive vacancies at once can create confusion. The appointment process must be transparent to maintain credibility,” he said. “Removing only top-level officials might have been sufficient. Replacing officials across all levels could take time and disrupt operations.”

Subedi also cautioned against politicisation of new appointments. “There is a trend where each government appoints its own people. Those appointed now may also face accusations of being aligned with the ruling party,” he said.

With no immediate clarity on replacement mechanisms, the ordinance has left a wide institutional vacuum, raising questions about how the government plans to restore functionality across key sectors in the coming weeks.