Ramhari Khatiwada accepts moral responsibility in cooling-off clause controversy

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress lawmaker and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on State Affairs and Good Governance, Ramhari Khatiwada, has spoken out regarding the controversy surrounding the removal of the cooling-off period provision in the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2023.

Khatiwada, whose name has been mentioned in the investigation report led by NC MP Jeevan Pariyar, said that although he does not believe he committed any wrongdoing, he is ready to take moral responsibility as the committee chair.

The investigation committee, comprising seven members, found both Khatiwada and committee secretary Suraj Kumar Dura responsible for manipulating the draft bill to remove the cooling-off clause, a provision meant to prevent civil servants from immediately transitioning into political appointments after leaving the bureaucracy.

Speaking to Khabarhub, Khatiwada said, “The parliamentary committee has held me morally and politically responsible for tampering with the cooling-off clause. I take full responsibility for any lapses on my part—today and in the future.”

He added, “Yes, I signed and submitted the Federal Civil Service Bill with the cooling-off provision. I take responsibility for that. But I have always maintained that those who deliberately tampered with it must be held accountable.”

Khatiwada clarified that he does not disagree with the committee’s findings, but questioned why lawmakers had not scrutinized the bill thoroughly before its tabling. “I sent the bill with the provision clearly marked in bold. What were lawmakers doing for 15 days? Why didn’t they study it?” he asked.

He also pointed out that the committee’s report held Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire politically accountable as well.

Khatiwada further revealed that high-level bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal and Parliament Secretariat Secretary Padma Prasad Pandey, had taken the matter of the cooling-off clause to senior political leaders. “We’ve seen them lobbying with top leaders and even the Prime Minister, parading the issue like a rally,” he said.