A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court challenging the government's recent decision to amend eligibility criteria for appointing officials and members to public bodies under the Ministry of Finance—specifically the removal of the upper age limit.
Advocates Bishal Thapa and Pratibha Upreti filed the petition, arguing that the amendment was strategically made to influence the appointment of a new governor at Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB). They have called for the annulment of the revised criteria.
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According to Supreme Court Deputy Registrar Nirajan Pandey, the petition lists the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, the Governor Recommendation Committee (formed under the NRB Act), and Nepal Rastra Bank as defendants. The case is scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, April 15.
The government removed the age restriction shortly after forming a Governor Recommendation Committee led by Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, with former NRB Governor Bijaya Nath Bhattarai and financial expert Bishwo Paudel as members.
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Previously, the criteria required officials to be at least 30 years old and not exceed 65, while members had to be aged between 35 and 65.
Critics allege the amendment was intended to pave the way for the appointment of a politically aligned candidate. However, the appointment process remains stalled due to unresolved differences between ruling coalition partners, the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress.
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The governor’s seat has remained vacant since April 7 with the completion of Maha Prasad Adhikari’s term. In the interim, Finance Minister Paudel has appointed Senior Deputy Governor Neelam Dhungana Timsina as Acting Governor.
