Major General Pandey’s resignation approved

KATHMANDU: The cabinet has approved the resignation of Major General Tara Dhwaj Pandey.

Pandey had tendered his resignation on November 9 after the Nepal Army headquarters launched an investigation into his date of birth. The army headquarters forwarded his resignation to the defense ministry, which tabled it in the cabinet meeting held on Thursday, according to government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma.

Earlier, the army headquarters had issued a notice recommending Major General Pandey for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general. Had Pandey been promoted to lieutenant general, he would have succeeded Chief of Army Staff Prabhu Ram Sharma upon his retirement next year.

However, complaints were lodged with different government agencies, including the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), claiming that Pandey tampered with official documents to change his date of birth. Pandey put in his papers after the army headquarters formed an inquiry committee under Lieutenant General Sitaram Khadka to investigate the complaints.

The approval of Pandey’s resignation has paved the way for the army headquarters to fill the vacant post of Lieutenant General. Major General Ashok Sigdel is likely to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. The other post of Lieutenant General will also be vacant next month when Lieutenant General Sitaram Khadka retires.