SC stays amendment removing age limit for governor appointment

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has directed the government not to implement its decision to eliminate the age limit for appointments to finance-related public entities.

Responding to a writ petition filed by advocates Pratibha Upreti and Bishal Thapa, a single bench of Justice Nityananda Pandey issued a temporary interim order on Tuesday, instructing the government to halt the implementation of the revised criteria until further notice and a show cause notice. It has also summoned both parties to the case to discuss the matter.

The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for Sunday. This means the government cannot appoint individuals above 65 years of age as the central bank governor before Sunday.

On April 1, the Ministry of Finance amended the ‘Criteria for Appointment and Nomination of Officials and Members in Finance-Related Public Entities, 2016’, removing the age restriction for appointing officials and members in finance-related public entities. The change, which was made during the selection process for the next governor of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), brewed controversy, with many claiming that it was intended to favor specific candidates for the position of governor.

Previously, only people aged 30 to 65 were eligible for such appointments.