30 April 2026 | Kathmandu, Nepal
KATHMANDU – The ordinances arrived like a thunderclap. More than 40 laws, rewritten. University chiefs, preparing to resign. And a constitutional firestorm, engulfing the capital.
Prime Minister Balen Shah's government has launched an aggressive ordinance blitz, amending everything from education and civil service to land management and public procurement. The move is being defended as necessary governance reform – but critics call it an "end-run around Parliament."
"The government has embraced democratic values to ensure that public service delivery remains efficient," said Asim Shah, the prime minister's political adviser. "These reforms are not designed to benefit any individual or political group."
But the opposition is not convinced. And neither, it seems, is the presidency.
⚡ THE SCOPE: 40+ laws under amendment • Education, Civil Service, Land Management, Health, Public Procurement, Insurance • University vice-chancellor, rector, registrar preparing to resign • President consulting legal experts
THE ORDINANCE BLITZ: WHAT IS BEING CHANGED?
The government has recommended amendments to more than 40 laws through a series of ordinances. The scope is sweeping:
- Education laws – reshaping university governance
- Civil Service Act – restructuring public service delivery
- Land Revenue and Survey laws – simplifying land administration
- Technical Education and Vocational Training laws
- Health Sciences Academy laws
- Public Procurement laws – increasing transparency
- Insurance regulations
According to Asim Shah, the Cabinet meeting held on Baisakh 14 recommended the ordinances to President Ramchandra Paudel for authentication. The reforms, he argued, are necessary to eliminate policy deadlocks and establish a results-oriented governance system.
"The government has embraced democratic values to ensure that public service delivery remains efficient and public-interest work is not obstructed by legal complications," Shah stated.
UNIVERSITY CHIEFS PREPARE TO RESIGN
In a major institutional development, senior officials at Tribhuvan University – Nepal's oldest and largest university – are preparing to resign following the government's ordinance targeting politically appointed officeholders.
Vice-Chancellor Deepak Aryal, Rector Khadga KC, and Registrar Kedar Prasad Rizal are expected to step down, according to university officials.
— A university official
The resignations are being viewed as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at allowing the new government greater administrative flexibility. But critics see it as a purge – a systematic removal of officials appointed under previous administrations.
The ordinance in question abolishes the fixed four-year tenure of university and health science institution officeholders, opening the way for immediate replacement and restructuring. Legal experts argue that this move may be a strategic workaround to avoid Supreme Court precedents protecting fixed-term appointees from early dismissal.
THE PRESIDENT'S DILEMMA: CONSULTING LEGAL EXPERTS
President Ramchandra Paudel has called legal and constitutional experts to discuss the legality and necessity of the ordinances before making a final decision. The President's Office invited constitutional expert Bipin Adhikari, among others, for consultations regarding the six ordinances recommended by the government.
The President is consulting former Attorneys General, senior advocates, and constitutional scholars amid concerns that the government is bypassing parliamentary procedures by issuing ordinances instead of debating legislation in Parliament.
This is not the first time Paudel has faced such a dilemma. Previously, while returning a similar bill to Parliament, he stated: "Even if consensus cannot be reached, majority rule must remain the final foundation of decision-making."
THE OPPOSITION UNITES: "BYPASSING PARLIAMENT"
Major opposition parties – including Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party – have strongly objected to the ordinances. In a rare show of unity, they issued a joint statement.
— Joint statement by opposition parties
The opposition argues that ordinances should only be used in urgent situations – typically when Parliament is not in session – and not as substitutes for parliamentary legislation. They also criticized the government for postponing Parliament after it had already been summoned.
The implication is clear: the opposition believes the government is afraid to debate these reforms in the legislature, preferring to ram them through by executive fiat.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL CONTROVERSY
The most legally explosive ordinance concerns the Constitutional Council. The government seeks to amend the law to allow appointments based on recommendations from only three members, including the Chairperson.
Currently, the Constitution envisions a broader council involving the Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker, National Assembly Chairperson, Deputy Speaker, and Opposition Leader.
Constitutional experts warn that reducing participation in the appointment process could weaken democratic accountability and institutional independence.
"If the Constitutional Council can make appointments with only three members, what is the point of having a broader council?" asked one constitutional expert. "This fundamentally alters the balance of power."
THE COOPERATIVE ORDINANCE: SENT BACK FOR CORRECTIONS
In a rare procedural setback, the President's Office returned the cooperative-related ordinance to the government after identifying multiple drafting and language errors. Officials noted inconsistencies in sections and wording, requiring government representatives to revise and resubmit the ordinance.
The move suggests that the President is scrutinizing the ordinances carefully – and is not simply rubber-stamping the government's requests.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
All eyes are now on President Ramchandra Paudel. His decision on whether to authenticate the ordinances will shape Nepal's governance structure, university autonomy, constitutional balance, and political stability for years to come.
If he approves, the government will have dramatically expanded executive power. If he sends them back, the prime minister will face a significant political defeat.
Either way, the debate over ordinances – and the limits of executive authority – is far from over.
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