A meeting of the Council of Ministers has decided to appoint Deepak Thapa as the chief of Nepal Police, the state-run national news agency RSS reported
According to RSS, a cabinet meeting held at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Baluwatar on Monday evening decided to promote Thapa from the post of Additional Inspector General (AIG) to Inspector General of Police (IGP). Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, confirmed the appointment, reported RSS.
Sources at the police headquarters revealed that Thapa was appointed as the 31st police chief of Nepal on the basis of seniority. Thapa was the top contender for the coveted post among other AIGs including Sudip Giri and Tek Bahadur Tamang. He was appointed to the post of IGP following the retirement of Basanta Kunwar due to the 30-year service limit.
Sources claim that newly-appointed IPG Thapa will likely lead the police force for only about five months unless the government amends the 30-year service limit.
The 30-year service limit has significantly disrupted the continuity of leadership within the Nepal Police, leading to frequent changes at the highest level. Since its introduction in 2008 by the then government led by the Maoist party, no Inspector General of Police has been able to complete the full four-year tenure, often resulting in multiple leadership transitions within a single government term.
Experts have time and again said this constant turnover has hindered long-term policy implementation and strategic planning within the force. Moreover, the provision has intensified internal competition among senior officers, sometimes leading to legal disputes over promotions. Critics argue that the frequent changes in leadership weaken institutional stability, affecting operational efficiency and morale within the police force.
Meanwhile, the cabinet meeting also took the decision to appoint Dinesh Bhatta to the post of Executive Director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), RSS further reported.
