The Government of Nepal has decided to cancel the ongoing selection and recommendation process for the Vice-Chairperson and Member Secretary positions at the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) following concerns over the legality of the evaluation criteria. According to an official notice, the recommendation committee had received 36 applications for the Vice-Chairperson position, of which 25 were accepted, while all four applications submitted for the Member Secretary position were approved. The committee had also made arrangements to shortlist candidates based on their academic qualifications and professional experience under the CTEVT Selection and Recommendation Procedure, 2083.

The controversy arose from a provision in Schedule 3 of the selection procedure, which awarded an additional two marks to candidates holding a PhD degree. However, Rule 3(b) of the CTEVT Regulations, 2051, establishes a master’s degree from a recognized educational institution as the minimum academic qualification for the Vice-Chairperson position. The government determined that awarding additional marks for a doctoral qualification under the existing procedure was inconsistent with the prevailing legal framework, raising concerns about the validity of the selection criteria.

Consequently, a ministerial-level decision dated Bhadra 24, 2083 BS, cancelled the existing selection and recommendation process. The government has decided to introduce a new selection procedure and restart the process in accordance with the applicable legal provisions. The notice does not specify when the revised procedure will be published or when fresh applications will be invited. The decision highlights the government’s intention to ensure that leadership appointments at CTEVT follow legally consistent evaluation standards.