Govt. appoints Hitendra Dev Shakya as Executive Director of NEA; Protests erupt over Kulman Ghising’s dismissal

Kathmandu / March 25: The government has appointed Hitendra Dev Shakya as the Executive Director (EC) of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday took this decision, Minister for Communications and Information Technology and the Spokesperson of Government Prithvi Subba Gurung said on Tuesday organizing a press meet at the Ministry.

The government removed NEA ED Kulman Ghising and appointed Shakya to the post.

Likewise, the cabinet meeting approved the official visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to Thailand from April 1-5. During the visit, the PM will also attend the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit.

Similarly, the cabinet meeting formed a search committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, for the recommendation for the position of Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank. Former Governor Bijaya Nath Bhattarai and Economist Bishow Poudel are the members of the search committee.

According to Minister Gurung, the cabinet meeting also decided to form the Commerce Bench at the Rajbiraj Bench of the High Court, Janakpur.

Likewise, the government formed a search committee for the appointment of Chairperson and Members of the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons and Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The cabinet meeting formed the search committee under the leadership of former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Om Prakash Mishra.

The National Human Rights Commission Chairperson or a person designated by the Chairperson will serve as the member in the search committee along with former Attorney General Khamma Bahadur Khati, Dr Arjun Karki (Sankhuwasabha) and Stela Tamang (Gorkha).

The cabinet meeting also approved the visit of Election Commissioner Dr Janaki Kumari Tuladhar to Australia for his participation to Canberra Fellowship Programme from May 25 to June 1, 2025.

Furthermore, the government approved the participation of a Nepali delegation under the leadership of Home Ministry’s Joint Secretary to take part in the Joint Working Group on 13th Meeting of Broader Management to be held in Pokhara from March 27-28.

The cabinet meeting also appointed Joint Secretary Bindeshwor Prasad Lekhak as the Consul-General to Consulate General of Nepal in Hong Kong for a term while the government made decision on promotion and transfer of some generals of Nepal Army.

Similarly, the cabinet approved the participation of Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel to Global Health Week to be held in Abu Dhabi of UAE from 15-17 April.

The government also promoted Birendra Kumar Yadav to the post of secretary and deputed him as the Principal Secretary of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, Karnali Province.

Protests erupt in Kathmandu over Kulman Ghising’s dismissal

Protests erupted in Kathmandu following the government’s decision to sack Kulman Ghising as managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Demonstrations took place along the Maitighar-Baneshwar section, with protesters condemning the dismissal. Protesters were seen carrying placards reading aggressive slogans against the government such as, “Where is the government heading? Cutting electricity and removing Kulman.”

The authority deployed a large number of security personnel in riot gear as protesters tried to breach barriers placed at the prohibited area at Baneshwar, near the Parliament building.

Ghising, who was appointed in 2021, was dismissed by the Cabinet on Monday, and Hitendra Dev Shakya was appointed as the new NEA chief. His removal comes after months of standoff with the government, primarily over recovering unpaid dues from dozens of companies, signing an energy deal with India, and accusations of insubordination.

Despite facing criticism from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Energy Minister Dipak Khadka, Ghising had defended his efforts to compel industries to settle their outstanding dues and clarified his position on several occasions.

The government decision faced backlash not only from opposition parties but also from leaders within the ruling Nepali Congress.

Ghising has vowed to challenge the dismissal in court. With uncertainty surrounding the NEA’s future, the impact of this leadership change on Nepal’s power sector remains unclear.