Joint secretaries: Transferred from one ‘veranda to another veranda role’
Summary
The government has transferred several joint secretaries kept without responsibilities at the Ministry of Home Affairs to the additional group at another ministry, drawing criticism over Nepal’s “veranda transfer” practice. The article also notes that only one woman secretary is now serving inside Singha Durbar after recent transfers.
Key Points
- Several joint secretaries with no assigned duties at the Ministry of Home Affairs were moved to the additional group at the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration.
- The practice, known as a “veranda transfer,” keeps civil servants reporting to office without actual responsibilities and is criticized for harming morale and public service delivery.
- Only one woman secretary now serves in a ministry inside Singha Durbar after Sarita Dawadi was transferred to the Office of the Nepal Trust.
- Two more joint secretaries, Rudra Pandit and Rishiraj Acharya, have recently resigned amid discussions on the Federal Civil Service Act.
