Kathmandu, May 3 -- The "ordinance on special provisions relating to the removal of public officials from office, 2026", issued by President Ramchandra Paudel on Saturday, has triggered widespread disruption across Nepal's administrative, educational, health and public institutional landscape.

Through the ordinance, more than 1,200 officials have been removed from dozens of public entities governed by 110 different laws, in what is being described as one of the most sweeping administrative overhauls in recent years. The provision mandates that all appointments made prior to March 26 are automatically terminated, regardless of tenure, benefits or terms of appointment.

"Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in prevailing laws, publ...