The Supreme Court is set to hear the writ petitions of Kulman Ghising, the outgoing Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), and Hitendra Dev Shakya, the newly appointed Managing Director, on Friday (today). Both had approached the court on Wednesday with separate legal challenges.

Kulman Ghising filed a writ petition claiming that his dismissal was illegal. As the petition was registered on Thursday, the Supreme Court summoned him for a preliminary hearing on Friday. In his petition, Ghising has demanded that the government’s decision be overturned and that he be reinstated as the Managing Director of NEA. He has also sought an interim order to prevent Hitendra Dev Shakya from assuming the position until the case is resolved. He has named the Ministry of Energy, Energy Minister Deepak Khadka, the NEA Board of Directors, and Shakya as defendants in his 17-page long petition.

Ghising argues that his dismissal was unjust, emphasizing that under his leadership, the NEA transformed from a loss-making entity to a profitable institution and successfully ended load-shedding in Nepal. He claims that Energy Minister Khadka made baseless allegations against him and sought an explanation in what he calls a biased act. In his petition, Ghising states that his removal was legally flawed, violating natural justice and judicial principles. He asserts that it was influenced by corruption, as he had been pushing to collect arrears for the use of dedicated and trunk lines—funds that could have financed a 100 MW hydropower project. He also argues that his dismissal was premature, as he was removed four months before the completion of his four-year tenure without justification.

Hitendra Dev Shakya’s writ petition is also scheduled for hearing on the same day. Although he filed it on Wednesday, it was officially registered on Thursday, and he was summoned to appear at the apex court on Friday. In his petition, Shakya contends that his four-year tenure, approved by the Council of Ministers, was legally valid from February 11, 2021, to February 10, 2025 but he was denied serving full term as Ghising was appointed in his place. Shakya has requested the court to halt any further actions on Ghising’s appointment until a final ruling is made. He has also claimed that he was denied salary and allowances despite his term still being in effect and has requested that his financial benefits be reinstated.

In his writ petition, he has requested the Supreme Court to nullify Ghising’s appointment and reinstate him as Managing Director of NEA.