Complaint Filed Against Governor Dr. Bishwanath Poudel at CIAA Alleging Lack of Qualification and Procedural Violation

A formal complaint has been filed at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) against Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Dr. Bishwanath Poudel, alleging that he was appointed to the position without proper qualifications and in violation of legal procedures.

The complaint, registered on Shrawan 4 (July 19), claims that Poudel lacks the qualifications required to become Governor under the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, 2058. It alleges that he was forcefully appointed under political influence despite being a member of a political party, which the complainant argues makes the appointment illegal.

Filed under the name "Rastrabhakta Nepali," the complaint (Registration No. C-001276) raises questions about Poudel’s academic credentials. It challenges his use of the titles "Professor" and "Doctor," demanding clarity on which meeting or decision of Kathmandu University granted him those titles.

The complaint further states that Poudel holds a Ph.D. in "Resource Agriculture" and a Master's degree in Software Engineering, whereas the central bank law mandates a postgraduate degree in fields such as economics, monetary policy, banking, finance, commerce, management, or commercial law for the Governor position. Hence, the complainant argues that he is academically unqualified.

Additionally, the complaint alleges that Poudel holds significant share investments in banks and financial institutions, with a portfolio exceeding NPR 200 million, making him ethically and legally unfit for the role. It also accuses him of favoring the stock market in the recently announced monetary policy, allegedly to artificially boost its performance.

The complaint draws parallels with a previous case involving Sharad Ojha, former Chairman of the Insurance Board, who was investigated for submitting fake educational documents. In that case, the government had formed a separate investigation committee to suspend Ojha and halt CIAA proceedings. The complainant warns that a similar scenario could unfold in Poudel’s case.

Meanwhile, a separate case challenging Poudel’s appointment is still pending in the Supreme Court. If the CIAA initiates an investigation and files a case based on this complaint, Governor Poudel could be automatically suspended from his post.