KATHMANDU: Following the filing of a corruption case related to the land exchange and land ceiling exemption for Patanjali Yogpeeth in Kavrepalanchok, former Secretary Sharada Prasad Tirtal has spoken out, stating the responsibility of senior bureaucrats to uphold the law despite political or administrative pressure.
The case, filed by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), has named several high-ranking officials including former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and other senior bureaucrats.
The investigation centers around the approval of land deals benefiting Patanjali Yogpeeth, allegedly through misuse of authority and breach of land ceiling regulations.
Amid the controversy, former Land Management Secretary Chhabilal Pant claimed in his statement to the CIAA that he forwarded the land proposal to the Cabinet under intense pressure from top political and administrative figures, including the then Prime Minister, the Chief Secretary, and the concerned Minister.
In response, former Secretary Tirtal took to social media, stating that even under pressure, a secretary must not cross legal boundaries. He said citing legal provisions and rejecting proposals clearly on file would prevent higher-level decision-makers from pushing illegal actions.
“A secretary is not merely a messenger of political leaders but a custodian of policy, law, and public interest,” Tirtal wrote.
He added that succumbing to pressure, temptation, or influence to engage in illegal decisions violates both the ethical standards and dignity of the secretary’s post.
“The worst a government can do is transfer a secretary – one should not be afraid of that,” he said.
Tirtal’s public stance has reignited discussions about the role of civil servants in resisting undue political influence and safeguarding rule of law in public service.
Meanwhile, Pant’s detailed statement to the CIAA, given over a year and a half ago, paints a picture of overwhelming pressure. He alleged that he was repeatedly warned by the then Chief Secretary that failure to take a “positive decision” could lead to disciplinary action.
He also claimed that not only top officials but junior staff were lobbying hard in favor of Patanjali. He named Deputy Secretaries Hupendra Mani KC, Gandhi Subedi, and Legal Officer Kalanidhi Paudel as individuals who were “deeply involved” in pushing Patanjali’s interests.
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