Lieutenant General, Ashok Raj Sigdel, who was embroiled in a recent controversy over his date of birth, is set to become the next Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of the Nepali Army on August 31.
Incumbent Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Prabhuram Sharma is taking leave from August 9. Hence, General Sigdel will be appointed as the Acting CoAS in mid-August, a source at the Nepali Army headquarters said.
A tradition has it that the CoAS in the Nepali Army will take leave one month before retirement and the CoS takes over the command of the army.
Lieutenant General Sigdel will lead the command of the Nepali Army for three years after he assumes his duty as CoAS.
Sigdel had been promoted to the post of Lieutenant General after Tara Dhoj Pandey, who was in the running to be the army chief, tendered his resignation over the controversy of his dual birth dates in November.
Sigdel had done his professional military training from Nepal and abroad. He had graduated from the Army Command and Staff College, Shivapuri, and National Defense University, China.
Similarly, he has completed the Army War College Higher Command and Management Course from Nepal and the Defense Management Course from India.
In his 37-year military service, Sigdel has done an MA in Strategic Studies from Tribhuvan University and an MA in Strategic Studies from the National Defense University of China.
