Nepal Airlines appointments make mockery of Balen Shah government’s meritocracy claim
Summary
The Supreme Court has overturned Nepal Airlines board appointments made under the Balen Shah government’s meritocracy claim, ruling that the process was opaque and amounted to “pick and choose.” Upendra Bahadur Karki, who topped the merit list, has also challenged the appointment of Maheswor Bhakta Shrestha as executive chairman and general manager.
Key Points
- Upendra Bahadur Karki applied for a Nepal Airlines Corporation board post after the government promoted merit-based appointments, but his name was left out despite scoring highest on the merit list.
- The Supreme Court ruled that the appointments were made on a “pick and choose” basis, not through a transparent merit process, and overturned the ministry’s decision.
- The court later removed Maheswor Bhakta Shrestha from the post of executive chairman and general manager, though it did not order Karki’s appointment to that role.
- The government is now reportedly considering action against Karki, including removing him from the Nepal Airlines board, after he twice challenged its decisions in court.
