The Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has been disgraced following allegations of officials facilitating individuals to travel abroad under visit visas in exchange for money, leading to scrutiny by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).
This controversy not only implicated employees but also raised questions about the roles of the Prime Minister and Home Minister. To address the issue, the government formed an investigation committee led by former Chief Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi. However, neither the government's reputation has been restored nor has significant reform been seen at the Immigration Office.
Complaints continue about people being allowed to travel under dubious visit visa arrangements. On Tuesday, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak decided to replace the Director General of the Department of Immigration and the chief immigration officer at TIA. Earlier, these officials were summoned for discussions at the ministry. Despite directives to implement measures to prevent further complaints, no improvement was observed, prompting the minister to make changes.
Ramchandra Tiwari, spokesperson and head of the Home Ministry’s security division, has been appointed as the new Director General for the Department of Immigration (DoI), while Narahari Ghimire, former Chief District Officer of Khotang, will head the TIA Immigration Office. Both face the challenge of restoring the office’s credibility. Tiwari previously served as director of the Immigration Department and is known for initiating reforms. Ghimire, who previously worked at the CIAA, was recalled from Khotang for this role.
Newly appointed DoI Director General Tiwari has pledged visible reforms in the organization. "Today marks my first day in this position. It's not appropriate for me to comment extensively right now," Tiwari told Nepalkhabar, "but I assure you we will bring tangible improvements to the immigration system - that much I can say."
The previous chief immigration officer, Bishnu Prasad Koirala, was appointed after CIAA investigated his predecessor, Tirtha Raj Bhattarai. However, complaints persisted, leading to his removal within two months. A Home Ministry official stated that reforms were long overdue, and trust in outgoing officials had eroded.
The new appointees must address past shortcomings and implement transparent policies. The ministry is also preparing to replace existing staff with fresh recruits to curb corruption. Over 40 new officers are expected to be deployed. Tiwari reportedly insisted on clean, competent staff to drive meaningful change.
A former chief immigration officer emphasized the need for clear guidelines on visa approvals, stressing that adherence to international security protocols, rather than arbitrary decisions, is crucial. Tiwari has pledged visible reforms, while the Home Ministry aims to overhaul the system to prevent further malpractices.
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