Prime Minister Sushila Karki has decided to halt the process of appointing Dr. Sangita Kaushal Mishra as Minister for Health. The move comes after the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) informed the Prime Minister’s Office that Mishra is currently under investigation.
Investigation and Appointment Status
Just on Sunday, Prime Minister Karki had recommended five new ministers, including Mishra, and forwarded their names to the Office of the President. However, after being notified that the CIAA’s investigation into Mishra was nearing completion and that a case filing was imminent, the government opted not to move forward with her appointment. According to a source close to the Prime Minister’s Office, her nomination is likely to be withdrawn starting Monday.
Other Ministerial Recommendations
The four other individuals recommended by the Prime Minister remain unaffected. Innovator Mahabir Pun has been named Minister for Education, Science, and Technology; former Supreme Court Justice Anil Kumar Sinha has been recommended as Minister for Industry and Land Reform; journalist Jagadish Kharel as Minister for Communication and Information Technology; and Dr. Madan Pariyar as Minister for Agriculture.
Background of Dr. Mishra
Dr. Mishra had been serving as Additional Secretary before tendering her resignation. She was previously a contender for the post of Health Secretary, but in 2022, Dr. Vikas Devkota was appointed instead, sparking controversy over seniority. Mishra has since expressed dissatisfaction with that decision.
Over the course of her career, she has held leadership roles at several major institutions, including serving as Director General of the Department of Health Services, head of Koshi Hospital, and chief of the Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital.
She first joined Nepal’s health service in 2000, later pursued studies in the United States under a Fulbright scholarship, and reentered the service in 2013 through open competition at the 11th level.
The Prime Minister’s latest decision has introduced an unexpected twist in the planned cabinet expansion. The leadership of the Health Ministry remains undecided as Mishra’s nomination stalls amid ongoing investigation.
