KATHMANDU, Nov 24: Concerned over the transfers of the chief district officers and senior police officials just ahead of the parliamentary and provincial assembly elections, the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday sought clarifications from the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the documents related to the transfers. The ministry has been asked to furnish clarification in writing within 24 hours.
The MoHA on Tuesday had transferred chief district officers (CDOs) of three districts, Bhupendra Thapa of Solukhumbu, Jagdish Raj Baral of Nuwakot and Heera Devi Poudel of Rasuwa.
Sunil Khanal has been made CDO of Solukhumbu and Birendra Yadav CDO of Nuwakot and Chomendra Neupane has been made CDO of Rasuwa.
Thapa had been transferred to the Central Regional Administration Office, Hetauda, whereas Baral was recalled to the ministry and Paudel had been transferred to the Immigration Office at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Home Ministry transfers 44 CDOs
Contrary to the previous practice of taking consent from the EC, the government has been accused of transferring district administration chiefs and police chiefs arbitrarily.
The Election Commission (EC) is conducting elections in these districts on Sunday.
Asked what will happen to the new CDOs in the three districts, Home Ministry spokesperson Narayan Sharma said they will continue their work in the new offices until the ministry takes fresh decision. “We have not yet received any letter from the EC. A decision will be taken only after the EC letter is received,” said spokesperson Sharma.
