A supplementary writ petition was filed at the Supreme Court on Friday, April 18, challenging the potential appointment of Gunakar Bhatta as the next Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). The filing came just hours after Bhatta resigned from his position as Executive Director of the central bank, intensifying speculation that the ruling coalition has reached a consensus on his nomination.
The petition was submitted by advocates Bishal Thapa and Pratibha Upreti, who argue that Bhatta does not meet the qualifications required for the governorship of the central bank.
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Thapa and Upreti are the same legal duo who previously filed a petition urging the Supreme Court to block the implementation of recently amended eligibility criteria for appointing officials and members of public bodies under the Ministry of Finance. In that petition, they alleged that the amendment was crafted specifically to influence the appointment of the governor at the central bank. They have called for the annulment of the revised criteria.
The amendment in question eliminated the upper age limit for candidates. Prior to the change, officials were required to be between 30 and 65 years of age, while members needed to be aged between 35 and 65.
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Earlier this week, the Supreme Court issued a short-term interim order to halt the implementation of the amendment. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for Sunday, April 20. Notably, the court has scheduled the hearing for Sunday, following the request from the petitioners that their latest supplementary petition be included in the same hearing for joint deliberation.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba reportedly have reached an understanding to appoint Bhatta to the position, which has remained vacant since the retirement of former Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari earlier this month.
Read: Maha Prasad Adhikari: A Governor’s Term amid Crisis and Controversy
Several other names have been floated in discussions surrounding the appointment. Gyanendra Dhungana, former CEO of Nabil Bank, has also been regarded as a strong contender. Notably, Nabil Bank’s principal promoter is a company owned by Nepali Congress lawmaker Binod Chaudhary.
Other contenders, reportedly supported by the CPN-UML, include Acting Governor Neelam Dhungana Timsina and Deputy Governor Bam Bahadur Mishra, as well as NRB Director and National Planning Commission member Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha. Candidates with affiliations to both major ruling parties are actively lobbying for the influential role.
Although existing law allows a new governor to be appointed up to one month before the post becomes vacant, political deadlock has delayed the process.
To advance the selection, the government has formed a three-member recommendation committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel. The committee also includes former NRB Governor Bijaya Nath Bhattarai and former National Planning Commission Vice Chair Bishwo Paudel. However, internal rivalries between the ruling Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have so far hindered a final decision.
The appointment is expected to be finalized during the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday, April 21.
This news has been updated to add that the court has scheduled the hearing for Sunday, April 20.
