Supreme Court Orders Reinstatement of Hitendra Dev Shakya at Nepal Electricity

The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of former Executive Director Hitendra Dev Shakya at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), four years after he was removed from the position.

A joint bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Shrikanta Paudel on Monday annulled the decision that had transferred Shakya to the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat as a technical expert, ruling the transfer unlawful and invalid.

Shakya had approached the Supreme Court seeking reinstatement, arguing that he was removed without due process.

The court’s decision is seen as a major setback for Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, who had removed Shakya soon after joining the NEA leadership during the government led by Sushila Karki. With the Supreme Court’s order, Shakya is set to return to the leadership of the authority, potentially triggering administrative and organizational shifts within the NEA.