KATHMANDU, July 4: Amid mounting questions over alleged misconduct concerning the “cooling-off period” provision in the Federal Civil Service Bill 2080 BS, Chairperson of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, Ramhari Khatiwada, has announced that he will not participate in committee meetings once a parliamentary investigation committee is formed.
Speaking to Republica, Khatiwada said that Speaker Devraj Ghimire has initiated the process to form the probe committee. Once it is officially established, Khatiwada stated that he will refrain from attending meetings in his capacity as chairperson.
“There could be suspicions that evidence might be destroyed if I, as the chair and a member of the committee, remain present during meetings. So, I have decided not to attend until the investigation concludes,” he said. Khatiwada also stated that he would not use the government vehicle assigned to him during this period.
Probe panel records statement from State Affairs Chair Khatiwad...
On Thursday, Speaker Ghimire held discussions with the chief whips of major parties to clarify the scope and membership of the proposed parliamentary probe committee.
Earlier, the State Affairs Committee had decided to appeal to the National Assembly to rectify irregularities observed in the “cooling-off period” provision of the Federal Civil Service Bill 2080 BS.
Meanwhile, Committee Secretary Suraj Kumar Dura has already resigned from the committee. Dura stepped down following a nearly five-hour-long committee meeting on Wednesday, during which members urged him to relinquish his position.
Although Chairperson Khatiwada confirmed Dura's resignation, he mentioned that an official resignation letter has yet to be submitted to the Federal Parliament Secretariat.
The Federal Civil Service Bill 2080 BS, which was passed by Parliament on Sunday, includes a vital provision requiring civil servants to observe a two-year “cooling-off period” before becoming eligible for appointments in constitutional and other public bodies.
However, a controversial sub-clause in the bill exempts secretaries and joint secretaries from this provision—triggering backlash from opposition leaders and even members of the ruling alliance, with several demanding Khatiwada’s resignation as committee chair.
