Nepal, May 7 -- The new government, in a sweeping move to remove officials appointed by previous governments, has removed 10 chairpersons and members of two transitional justice commissions. Along with over 1,500 office bearers from over a hundred state institutions, the Balendra Shah administration also relieved the leaderships of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons, appointed under the KP Sharma Oli government in May last year. While the use of an ordinance to dismiss them has raised legal and procedural questions, the decision also opens the door for fresh and fair appointments in the commissions, which have long been criticised for politicisation.

The office bear...