Kathmandu, July 20

Former chief secretary Som Lal Subedi today resigned from the post of additional chief secretary and the government has accepted his resignation, said Minister of Finance Gyanendra Bahadur Karki after a Cabinet meeting.

The government’s decision comes in the backdrop of public outcry against Subedi for accepting a job at Asian Development Bank without resigning from the post of chief secretary.

Subedi had accepted the post of alternate director at Manila-based ADB a few days ago. Lawmakers, media and the civil society had condemned Subedi’s decision to accept a job at ADB without resigning from his post, following which the government transferred him to the reserve pool as additional chief secretary.

Today’s Cabinet meeting also scrapped the post of additional chief secretary.

After Subedi’s transfer to reserve pool, Rajendra Kishor Chhetri was appointed chief secretary on July 13. Subedi could have held on to his government job for another year had he not joined ADB.

Those condemning Subedi for not quitting earlier said he did not resign as chief secretary hoping to be in the government service for another year.