Frequent transfers of the chief administrative officers (CAOs) have paralysed several local units in Madhesh Province. The elected representatives, mainly the chiefs of the local units, are blamed for transferring the CAOs who refuse to work at their behest.

The instability triggered by the frequent transfer has led to delays in development projects and disruptions in daily administrative functions. Many local representatives are accused of attempting to appoint CAOs who align with their interests, resulting in irregularities and mismanagement.

Conflicts between chiefs and deputy chiefs over CAO appointments have become longstanding issues. Disagreements over administrative responsibilities have affected day to day operations and budget implementation. In some municipalities, CAOs have been transferred as many as four to five times within the current fiscal year of 2024-25.

On January 15, Dipendra Kumar Sah assumed office as the CAO of Bideha Municipality in Dhanusha. However, on February 9, Mayor Bechan Das’s son, Ram Bhajan, physically assaulted Sah in his office over a dispute related to a teacher’s appointment. When Sah complained to the mayor, he allegedly received death threats. Unable to continue working under such pressure, Sah left for Kathmandu on February 23.

Despite a High Court’s order to allow Sah to perform his duties without obstruction, he was denied entry into his office. He has been working now as office chief in the Drinking Water and Sewerage Management Office, Janakpur.

The same mayor who had warmly welcomed Sah when he was assigned to the municipality from the National Vigilance Center turned against him over a minor administrative decision. Even after the High Court’s interim order on February 20, Sah's transfer letter had already been issued on February 18 and sent via email later.

Frequent transfers of the CAOs are not limited to Bideha. In Hansapur Municipality, three CAOs have already been replaced within eight months of the current fiscal year. Other people’s representatives accused Mayor Pradeep Kumar Yadav that he transferred the officials who did not comply with his directives. He personally arranged for the transfer of Subodh Thakur, Keshav Adhikari, and Sarbajit Kumar Jha, but later obstructed Thakur and Adhikari from working, forcing further transfers. Mayor Yadav, however, blames the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration for the chaos, arguing that repeated interference disrupts the municipal administration.

In Gaushala Municipality of Mahottari district, Mayor Dipendra Mahato also influenced CAO appointments. After securing the transfer of Subodh Thakur from Hansapur, Mahato later arranged for his removal when Thakur refused to approve politically motivated hires. Thakur alleges that Mahato pressured him to approve 38 hospital staff and engineers of his choosing. When he insisted on following legal procedures, Mahato threatened him and eventually arranged for his transfer.

Political and economic interests often dictate administrative changes. “Mayor Mahato pressured me to appoint employees of his interest. When I attempted to carry out work fulfilling due administrative process he visited the ministry and transferred me,” said Thakur. “I could not work in Gaushala. I faced pressure to award river excavation contracts to specific individuals and purchase medical equipment based on financial interests,” he claimed.

The instability in CAO appointments is causing significant operational issues across Madhesh Province. In Gaushala Municipality, decisions related to employee transfers, procurement of medical supplies and infrastructure projects are frequently influenced by political interests rather than administrative guidelines. Deputy Mayor Renuka Kumari Mahato admitted that multiple CAOs had been transferred within months due to political interference.

In Brindaban Municipality of Rautahat district, Mayor Binod Prasad Kurmi has also been involved in blocking CAOs from assuming office. On February 12, Hari Shankar Yadav arrived with an official transfer order but was prevented from assuming his duties. Kurmi reportedly withheld the official register to obstruct the process. Deputy Mayor Sangeeta Kumari Ram intervened, ensuring that Yadav could officially take charge, but Kurmi later appealed to the ministry to reinstate the previous CAO, Khim Bahadur Bhujel, citing political reasons. Bhujel had faced corruption allegations, and local activists had even staged protests against him.

In Chandrapur Municipality, Rautahat, CAO Surendra Pradhan faced similar resistance. Despite being officially transferred to Chandrapur in August 2024, he was denied entry. The ministry eventually reassigned him to Thaha Municipality in Makwanpur.

The ongoing struggle for control over CAO appointments has exposed weaknesses in Nepal’s local governance system. In many municipalities, mayors block CAOs who do not align with their personal or political interests. In some cases, they collaborate with ministry officials to manipulate transfers for financial or administrative benefits.

Former Bideha Municipality CAO Dipendra Sah claimed that some ministry officials accept bribes to facilitate rapid transfers. This practice has allowed mayors to sideline competent officials and appoint less experienced, but politically loyal individuals. “Officials who refuse to comply with the mayor’s demands are quickly transferred, while those who agree to political manipulation are protected,” he added.

In certain cases, municipalities operate without a CAO for months, disrupting essential services. In Bhagawanpur Municipality of Mahottari, and Devahi Gonahi Municipality, Rautahat, administrative work remains stalled due to the absence of a CAO. In Katari Municipality, Udayapur, 250 permanent and 200 contract employees have been unable to receive their salaries as the local unit does not have a CAO.

The increasing influence of political leaders over CAO appointments is paralysing the local level. Municipal employees and civil society leaders warn that if this trend continues, public service delivery will deteriorate further. Yogendra Prasad Yadav, a Dhanusha-based civil society leader, said the mayors or chiefs now have a habit of appointing their preferred officials and removing those who do not comply. “This weakens the entire administrative system and ultimately hampers service deliveries,” he added. He asserted that the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration must enforce stricter regulations on CAO transfers.