On the recommendation of the government, President Ram Chandra Paudel has issued the Ordinance on Special Provisions Relating to the Removal of Public Officials from Office, 2026, as a result of which positions in 11 universities, the University Grants Commission, and service commissions have simultaneously become vacant.
Through the ordinance, the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) majority government, led by Balen Shah, has removed from office 1,594 officials who were politically appointed in various structures under different laws and institutional frameworks. The government stated that this move is aimed at strengthening administration and giving new momentum to state bodies.
This includes 11 universities, the University Grants Commission, and service commissions.
A total of 23 individuals – including chairpersons and members of the Teachers Service Commission and various committees appointed under the Education Act 1971 – have been removed from office.
Similarly, 28 positions, including the vice-chancellor and officials of the service commission appointed under the Nepal Sanskrit University Act 1986, have become vacant.
Also, 17 officials appointed under the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training Act 1988, and 34 officials appointed under the National Youth Council Act 2015 have been dismissed.
Twenty-five positions, including the vice-chancellor and registrar appointed according to the Kathmandu University Act 1991, are vacant.
Eighty-four officials, including the vice-chancellor and service commission officials appointed according to the Tribhuvan University Act 1992, have been removed from their posts.
Eight positions, including the chairperson and members appointed according to the University Grants Commission Act 1993, are vacant.
Sixty-nine officials, including the vice-chancellor and registrar appointed under the Purbanchal University Act 1993, have been dismissed.
Fifty officials, including the vice-chancellor and academic head appointed according to the Pokhara University Act 1996, have lost their positions.
Additionally, 44 individuals, including the vice-chancellor and registrar appointed according to the Lumbini Buddhist University Act 2006, have been removed from office.
The ordinance removed 27 officials appointed under the Far-Western University Act 2010, and 26 officials appointed under to the Mid-Western University Act 2010.
Furthermore, 22 officials appointed under the Agriculture and Forestry University Act 2010, and 24 individuals appointed under the Nepal Open University Act 2016 have been removed.
Thirty-nine officials appointed under the Rajarshi Janak University Act 2017, and 24 officials appointed according to the Madan Bhandari University Act 2022 have been removed from their posts.
