Dr Leela Pathak, a member of the commission, has questioned the transparency of the deal. Pathak claims her request for information about the deal was repeatedly turned down by Secretary Bishal Khanal. Pathak has lodged a complaint at the commission demanding access to the file, which contains details about the deal. However, Khanal has turned a deaf ear to her requests.
On Sunday, Dr Pathak and member Gauri Pradhan had a exchange of words over the issue. Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyay is learnt to have intervened and directed the secretary to give Pathak the file.
Pathak smells a rat in the procurement deal. “The secretary is trying to buy time. As he is already under suspicion, he is likely to tamper with the facts in the documents. So, the chairman should immediately suspend him till he is proven innocent,” she said.
Interestingly, Khanal claimed that the file was not in his possession. “The staffer who has kept the file is on leave,” Khanal said.
Upadhyay and members Pradhan and Ram Nagina Singh have supported the procurement, while members Pathak and Dr KB Rokaya have questioned the deal.
“On Monday, I warned the chairman that I will move the court if the secretary continued to keep me in the dark,” Dr Pathak said.
Related story
NHRC urges govt to end torture in custody and prisons
