Nepal’s Public Service Commission (PSC) has been left without any board members, with the body responsible for recommending replacements dragging its heels over the appointments.
The six-year tenure of all five officials has ended and the Constitutional Council seems in no hurry to fill the vacancies with no meetings planned.
According to Public Servants within the PSC, the prolonged uncertainty was having an impact on moral within the bureaucracy.
Information Officer at the Commission, Devi Prasad Subedi said work was at a standstill.
“The Commission has postponed all work. Everything is stalled until the new office bearers arrive,” Mr Subedi said.
Retiring Chair of the PSC, Umesh Prasad Mainali (pictured) said he was legally unable to intervene as his term had ended.
“As it stands the law does not allow me or anyone else to make decisions and do the work of the office bearers,” Mr Mainali said.
Mr Subedi said the standstill meant that Public Servants could not be promoted and no new applicants could be inducted.
“This does not just affect the civilian bureaucracy, institutions such as the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and various public institutions are also adversely affected,” Mr Subedi said.
Prime Minister, K.P. Oli has the power to force the Constitutional Council to meet, but has so far failed to do so.
The House of Representatives, which might have tried to force the issue, was dissolved by Mr Oli on 20 December last year.
Kathmandu, 26 March 2021
