Ntc (Nepal Telecom) could soon get its next MD (Managing Director) after a verdict by the Supreme Court. The telco can now resume proceeding to appoint its new MD after a joint bench of Supreme Court Judge Tej Bahadur KC and Kumar Chudal dismissed the written petition on Wednesday, March 30th calling for it to halt.
The company started looking for a new incumbent after the former MD Dilliram Adhikari’s tenure came to an end. For months now, the telco is without leadership. Meanwhile, Pratibha Vaidya has led the company as its Acting Managing Director since January this year, 2022.
Ntc had opened a vacancy for the post of Managing Director at the company back in December 2021. But the process took hold after an interim order resulting from the writs filed at the Supreme Court. Former employees at the company had submitted two separate writs alleging ill practices to influence the appointment of its new MD.
Ntc’s former Deputy Manager Mr. Surendra Man Singh and another long-time server Dr.Rajendra Pokharel filed writs against the company over the amendment to the MD Appointment and Facility Directives 2078. They had opposed the lowering of the age bar from 58 to 56 to become Ntc’s new MD.
Ntc to resume search for its next MD
To address the issue, a joint bench of Supreme Court Justices Deep Kumar Karki and Prakash Kumar Dhungana had ordered an interim order and a full hearing on the writ petition.
On the very basis, the Court’s judges Tej Bahadur KC and Dr. Kumar Chudal dismissed the write paving the way for Ntc to find its new MD.
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That means the company will now have legal backing to accept applications and select a candidate as per its directive. The MoCIT will carry out the task to appoint a new MD for the government-owned telecom operator.
As known, 9 candidates have submitted their applications to become the company’s next MD.
Ntc’s search for the next MD will now resume.