The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has asked Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to punish Minister Paudel for appointing the member secretary of the sports governing body of Nepal illegally and arbitrarily.The anti-graft body has stated in a letter to the PM that Bista's appointment was against the law as he was serving a one-year suspension from the NSC while he was picked up for the top job. The CIAA has also directed the government to amend the decision to appoint Bista as the member secretary.
Bista was one of the sports officials to be punished by the NSC after four Nepali athletes disappeared in South Korea during the 17th Asian Games held in Incheon last year. The NSC had suspended the coaches and managers of wushu, sepak takraw and athletics teams for one year after the incident that drew widespread criticism and media attention.
Bista had lead the Nepali sepak takraw team as manager and was nominated the member secretary of the NSC on June 25 before his suspension expired.
A review meeting of the Asian Games chaired by Minister Paudel, who was also the chief of work execution and management committee of the games, on October 19 last year had directed the NSC to punish coaches and managers of the respective games and associations as well. As per the decision of the committee, the NSC had suspended the managers and coaches of all three games for one year.
"The sports minister has ignored the sports development act which states that suspended officials and members of sports associations will not be eligible to run or participate in any sports activity and use state facilities," CIAA Spokesperson Krishna Hari Puskar told Republica.
"Not only the person chosen for the post was illegal, the minister himself did not fulfill the norms of the post. Thus we decided to write to the prime minister asking him to punish Minister Paudel."
A statement issued by the CIAA claims that Paudel misused his power with ill intentions. "As the appointment process was flawed, the CIAA has asked to amend the process. This means the member secretary must be relieved from his post," Puskar said.
Similarly, CIAA has also directed Tek Prasad Kattel, chief of NSC's (sports) association coordination committee, for departmental action. The CIAA has alleged Kattel of hiding documents, failing to keep them in proper way and amending them.
Minister Paudel said that the decision of the CIAA was biased and the appointment was in line with the sports act. "I think the CIAA took the decision without investigation on its own. The punishment was recommended for Bista and the NSC board needs to take decision. The alleged one should also be given chance of clarification."
"I took the decision as per the sports act. The act has clearly stated that one found guilty by court or mentally retarded will not be eligible for nomination," said Paudel, adding that the Cabinet meeting shall decide about the CIAA's statement.
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