Bhusal’s appointment as NRA chief challenged

Kathmandu, November 12

A writ petition has been registered at the Supreme Court, demanding that the appointment of National Reconstruction Authority’s Chief Executive Officer Yuba Raj Bhusal be revoked.

NRA former CEO Sushil Gyawali filed the petition today terming the appointment illegal. The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Government of Nepal and NRA have been named defendants in the petition.

The petitioner has argued that the appointment of Bhusal was made when the tenure of erstwhile CEO Govinda Pokhrel had not ended. It may be noted that former CEO Pokhrel had resigned from the post, following his decision to register candidacy for the House of Representatives election from Pyuthan.

The Cabinet on October 23 had appointed Bhusal to the post and the appointment followed the acceptance of Pokhrel’s resignation. However, this is not the first time that Gyawali moved the apex court over the issue of appointment of NRA chief.

Prior to this, he had registered a petition claiming that his removal from the post was not in accordance with existing laws. He said though he was appointed as the NRA chief through a Cabinet decision on December 25, 2015 for a term of five years, he was replaced by Pokhrel within a year of appointment.

Talking to mediapersons after filing the petition, he said the appointment of Bhusal made in the context when his former writ petition was still under consideration in SC  prompted him to challenge the government’s October 23 decision.