KATHMANDU: The government has appointed Santosh Kumar Thapa as the Chief Commissioner of the Interim National Executive Committee of Nepal Scouts, prompting questions over his political affiliations, past appointments, and previous allegations linked to overseas volunteer programs.
The appointment was approved by the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Balen Shah on Wednesday. Minister for Education, Science and Sports Sasmit Pokharel handed Thapa his appointment letter the same day.
Thapa was actively involved in Balen Shah’s mayoral election campaign during the 2022 local elections. In recent years, he has also been associated with leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), according to sources familiar with Nepal Scouts.
Political affiliations and previous appointments
Sources within Nepal Scouts claim that a small group has maintained influence over the organization’s executive committee, director-level positions and projects for nearly a decade.
According to those sources, Thapa, along with several others, has held appointments under different governments while maintaining links with various political parties, including the CPN (Maoist Centre), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and more recently the RSP.
Public records show that Thapa was appointed to the Film Censor Board during the KP Sharma Oli-led government. He later served on the Nepal Scouts Executive Committee under subsequent governments.
Sources further claim that his latest appointment was recommended by individuals close to the current government. However, the government has not publicly commented on the recommendation process.
Concerns over selection process
Critics have also questioned the process through which Thapa became eligible for senior positions within Nepal Scouts.
According to reports, although Thapa is originally from Okhaldhunga, he was registered as a Scouts member from Madhesh Province through the organization’s online membership system, later becoming a National Council member before being appointed commissioner.
These claims have not been independently verified.
Past allegations over overseas volunteer programmes
Thapa has previously faced allegations related to Nepal Scouts’ international volunteer programmes. Reports alleged that some Nepali volunteers sent abroad through the organization remained overseas instead of returning to Nepal.
Among the cases cited was that of Bhadra Kumar Karki (Nabin Karki), who travelled to Switzerland under a six-month volunteer programme and allegedly did not return. Similar allegations were raised after the 2022 Denmark Jamboree and the 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea in 2023, where several Nepali participants were reported to have remained abroad.
Some reports also alleged financial arrangements to facilitate such stays. However, those accused have denied the allegations.
Former Nepal Scouts Chief Scout Devaraj Ghimire had previously said that most of the incidents occurred before he assumed office and that the organization would cooperate with authorities if required.
Legal provisions
Section 18(A), subsections (b) and (c), of the Nepal Scouts Act, 1993 (2050 BS) state that office bearers of Nepal Scouts must not be members of a political party or engage in political activities.
Thapa’s appointment has therefore drawn criticism from some quarters, with questions raised over whether it complies with the legal provisions governing the organization.
Neither the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports nor Thapa had issued an official response to the concerns at the time of publication.
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