Nepal Rastra Bank Moves to Restrict Bank Staff from Politics and Protests

Nepal Rastra Bank has proposed restricting bank employees from engaging in political activities, joining protests, or participating in strikes, as part of proposed amendments to the model employee service regulations (Karmachari Sewa Biniyemawali Sanghsodhan).

Under the draft, bank employees would be banded from joining political parties, standing as candidates in political elections, canvassing votes for any candidate, or trying to influence the political process in any way.

However, the draft makes clear that employees would still be free to exercise their right to vote, register organisations as permitted by law, and represent professional bodies such as the Nepal Bar Association, Nepal Medical Association, Nepal Chartered Accountants Institute, Nepal Management Association, and Nepal Professors' Association, among others.

The draft further proposes that employees cannot take part in demonstrations or strikes, or encourage others to do so, if such actions could threaten national sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace and security, foreign relations, public order, or amount to contempt of court or support for criminal activity. The restriction applies beyond the exercise of rights provided under existing law.

Employees found to have violated these provisions could face disciplinary action.