KATHMANDU: The CPN (Maoist Centre) has demanded the resignation of Ramhari Khatiwada, Chair of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee, after it was revealed that a key clause in the Federal Civil Service Bill was altered without parliamentary consensus.
The controversy centers on the “cooling-off period” provision that originally barred retired or resigned civil servants from holding constitutional or government positions for two years after leaving service.
This clause had been unanimously agreed upon by the committee. However, the version tabled and passed in the House of Representatives included an exemption—reportedly inserted without the knowledge of several committee members—that rendered the cooling-off requirement ineffective.
The new clause, Clause 82(5)(a), introduced the phrase “except for constitutional, diplomatic, or other appointments made by the Government of Nepal”, effectively allowing high-level political appointments without a waiting period. Critics say this change undermines the bill’s intent and raises serious questions about legislative transparency.
Maoist Centre MP Madhav Sapkota, after meeting with Speaker Devraj Ghimire, said Khatiwada must resign on moral grounds, whether or not he was directly involved. “If he signed off on a version that didn’t match the committee’s report, he must take responsibility,” Sapkota said.
Khatiwada has denied wrongdoing and said the bill can still be corrected in the National Assembly. He has also called for an investigation to identify who inserted the controversial clause.
As pressure builds, the incident has prompted widespread condemnation from both ruling and opposition lawmakers, who argue that such procedural manipulation sets a dangerous precedent for Nepal’s legislative process.
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