KATHMANDU: Hitendra Dev Shakya has officially assumed office as the Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), following the government’s decision to appoint him on Monday.
Shakya had previously led NEA but was replaced by Kulman Ghising. His legal battle challenging this removal remained unresolved, with his petition pending before the Supreme Court for years.
Despite attending 31 hearings, a verdict was never reached, and his four-year term expired while awaiting a decision.
Now, backed by the ruling alliance of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, Shakya has returned to the top position at NEA.
His initial four-year tenure, which began in 2077 BS under then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, was cut short after Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government reappointed Ghising in 2078 BS.
With his term technically set to end in just six days, Shakya’s reappointment comes amid public outrage over Ghising’s dismissal.
The move has drawn criticism, with concerns that political interests have taken precedence over institutional stability.
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