Nepal Airlines Board Appointments Under Scrutiny Amid Allegations of Irregularities

Kathmandu. The appointment to the post of Nepal Airlines Corporation's board member has been embroiled in controversy. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation had decided to appoint Dr. Deepak Prasad Bastola of Kaski, Pravin Bhattarai of Chitwan, Maheshwar Bhakta Shrestha of Lalitpur, Rupa Lamichhane of Kathmandu, and Lilaraaj Dhakal of Syangja to the board of directors on Jestha 31.

The appointment, made by a ministerial decision of the concerned minister Khadak Raj Poudel (Ganesh), has become controversial. It is alleged that Minister Poudel manipulated the process to select 5 individuals out of 27 competitors, and a complaint has been filed at the Prime Minister's Office and Council of Ministers.