Kathmandu, October 4.

The Development Committee of the Parliament today sought clarification from the government on its decision to reappoint Digambar Jha to the top post of Nepal Telecommunications Authority.

The Cabinet meeting on September 6 had appointed Jha as the chairman of NTA through open competition, though he had already served at the top post of the telecommunication sector regulatory body twice. Subsequently, Jha's reappointment at NTA had drawn heavy criticism from different quarters.

The Development Committee had summoned Minister of Communications and Information Technology Gokul Baskota for an update on several issues in the telecommunication sector, including Jha's appointment.

“As the appointment of chairman at NTA has raised eyebrows of stakeholders, the committee directs the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to furnish all related details on the reappointment of the new chairman at NTA,” reads the direction of the Development Committee. The committee meeting has asked MoCIT to submit all information on Jha's appointment within 15 days.

Minister Baskota, however, defended Jha's appointment at NTA stating that ‘all due legal procedures were adopted during the selection process.'

READ ALSO:

• Did Baskota cross boundaries?