Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The committee formed under the leadership of National Planning Commission (NPC) Vice Chairperson Shivaraj Adhikari has not yet initiated the process of appointing the new chairperson for the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA).
Officials within the Ministry of Finance claim that the committee was formed only for formality. A senior official from the ministry revealed that the process would move forward only after a specific candidate for the position is determined by the political leadership.
“The committee was formed just to fulfill procedural requirements and give legitimacy to the appointment. The process will only proceed once the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister decide on a candidate for the chairperson,” the official said.
However, Mahesh Bhattarai, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, said that the committee is preparing to start the selection process, with applications expected to open this week. He assured that the ministry does not intend to leave the NIA without a leader for an extended period and will soon proceed with the appointment.
The NIA has been without a chairperson since the suspension of Surya Silwal on December 9 after a corruption case was lodged against him at the Special Court.
Ram Sharan Pudasaini, Chairperson of the Agriculture Development Bank; Surendra Paudel, former Executive Director of Nepal Oil Corporation; Kabi Pathak, former Administrator of National Insurance Corporation; and Shankar Rayamajhi, former CEO of Nepal Reinsurance Company are believed to be eyeing the position.
