Kathmandu, July 6 -- The government has not promoted any officials to the rank of secretary since last December, and a growing number of senior bureaucratic posts have remained vacant as it reviews the structure of the federal civil service.

Vacancies initially went unfilled because of the election code of conduct. After taking office, the new government continued to defer promotions as it works on a broader restructuring of the civil service.

According to the Department of National Personnel Records (Civil), ten of the 70 sanctioned secretary-level posts are currently vacant, and several more are due to fall vacant in the coming weeks.

Chief Secretary Suman Raj Aryal will retire on July 9 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of...