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August 3, Kathmandu – The special parliamentary probe committee formed to investigate the error in the cooling-off period provision of the Federal Civil Service Bill is in the final stages of preparing its report.

The meeting is focused on finalizing the language to be used in the report. The committee, in its preliminary report, had acknowledged the failure to include the agreed political language on the cooling-off period provision as an error. However, members are still debating how to frame the degree and nature of the error.

The preliminary report had mentioned both “human error” and “gross negligence.” It stated that ever since the provision of the cooling-off period was included in the bill, discrepancies had appeared with another sub-clause, indicating inconsistency.

After deliberation on whether to term it “human error,” “negligence,” or both, the committee has reached consensus to merge the phrases and use the term “serious error” instead. As the report is yet to be finalized, members say discussions may still continue.

At the time the bill was introduced, it included various restrictive provisions for retired employees but did not explicitly prohibit appointments, meaning the cooling-off period was not in place.

Later, during deliberations on amendment proposals submitted by lawmakers, the cooling-off period provision was added.

The bill originally presented by then-Minister Anita Devi, under sub-clause (4), stated that retired employees in the special or first category could not engage in certain activities for two years without prior approval from the government of Nepal.

This was later amended by the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee to introduce a formal two-year cooling-off period for civil servants. The revised provision stated:

“A civil servant or employee resigning from or retiring from government service shall not be eligible for appointment to any constitutional or government post until completing two years from the date of retirement.”

However, a provision under sub-clause (5) raised concerns that it could effectively nullify the cooling-off period, prompting the formation of the parliamentary special probe committee.

On July 7 (Ashad 23), the House of Representatives formed the special committee to examine the controversy surrounding the inclusion and alteration of the cooling-off period in the Civil Service Bill.

The committee includes two members each from the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, and one each from the Maoist Centre, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). Congress members are Jeevan Pariyar and Sushila Thing, while UML is represented by Ishwari Gharti and Narayan Prasad Acharya. Madhav Sapkota represents the Maoist Centre, Ganesh Parajuli the RSP, and Roshan Karki the RPP.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire had initially given the committee 21 days to complete its work, later extending it by another seven days upon request. The committee now has until Shrawan 19 (August 4) to submit its findings.

With the House scheduled to meet on Shrawan 19, the committee is working to complete the report in time for submission in that session.