A New Chance for Transitional Justice in Nepal

On May 2, 2026, the office bearers of Nepal’s transitional justice (TJ) mechanisms—specifically the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP)—were formally relieved of their duties following the promulgation of the Ordinance on the Dismissal of Public Officials 2026. This decision was taken by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) administration, which secured nearly a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives during the 2026 general election. Under the leadership of senior party figure Balendra Shah, the government decided to remove officials appointed through political bargaining by previous administrations and replace them with impartial, competent, and result-oriented individuals capable of delivering tangible progress.