As per the decision made by the Promotion and Evaluation Board, Major General Basnet is retiring from service from Tuesday due to age limit."Major General Basnet is retiring from Tuesday as per NA's provisions," Brigadier General Tara Bahadur Karki, Spokesperson of Nepal Army said.
Basnet, whose performance was highly appreciated in the management of international rescue workers after last April's earthquake, had appealed for the extension of his term. However, the Promotion and Evaluation Board found no valid reasons to extend his terms citing various reasons.
According to NA sources, Basnet was found to have presented dual certificate - one while joining the force and other after completing a certain course from London. He had also reportedly presented two citizenship certificates with same age and different names and was also dragged into controversies while procuring caps.
As Lieutenant General Baldev Raj Mahat will retire before the retirement of incumbent Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rajendra Chhetri, Lt Gen Thapa remains as the undisputed candidate for promotion to the top post of the national army if he doesn't face any unexpected challenges.
According to the Nepal Army officials, another Major General Hemant Kunwar will also be contending with Thapa if his term is extended and promoted to the post of Lieutenant General.
Army officials claim that Lt Gen Thapa has chosen to quit the post of Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) based in Golan Heights in Syria, which is considered to be a very lucrative opportunity for army officials, and decided to continue his duties in Nepal with a view to pave his way for the top post of the national army.
In the past, the Promotion and Evaluation Board had extended the terms of Balananda Sharma, Raghuchandra Bahadur Singh and Krishna Narayan Singh Thapa but the terms of Nepal Bhusan Chand was not extended.
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