The CIAA recently wrote to MoFA asking the latter to fine Acharya Rs 5,000 as per provisions incorporated in the Corruption Control Act and the CIAA Act for his failure to furnish personal property details within 60 days of the beginning of the new fiscal year.[break]
The Corruption Control Act-2059 BS has a provision for imposing a fine of up to Rs 5,000 against government employees who fail to submit their property details within 60 days of the beginning of a new fiscal year.
As per existing law, those holding public posts must furnish their property details within that deadline.
"We received an investigation report from the National Vigilance Centre (NVC) about those who failed to furnish their property details within the stipulated timeframe," said a CIAA source, adding, "We found 35,000 government officials failing to comply with the CIAA Act. And, Acharya was one of them."
The source further confirmed that they have already asked MoFA to immediately fine Acharya Rs 5,000.
"We have asked various ministries and government agencies concerned including MoFA to fine those failing to submit their property details," said the source, adding, "Those who don´t implement the CIAA decision would be penalized."
"A person holding a public post or is in the public post from the date of commencement of this section shall submit an updated statement of property which in his own or relatives´ names, within 60 days from the date of holding of such post, and each year within 60 days of the expiry of the fiscal year before the body or authority prescribed by the Government of Nepal by a notification in the Nepal Gazette," reads the provisions enshrined in Clause 31 of the CIAA Act.
A sub-section of Clause 31 says that the CIAA shall impose a fine of 5,000 and ask for submission of the statement of property within 30 days.
In letters dispatched to various ministries and government agencies, the CIAA has already asked the authorities concerned to punish nearly 35,000 civil servants who failed to furnish their property details within 60 days of the beginning of the new fiscal year.
A total of Rs 175 million will be collected as revenue from the 35,000 civil servants if the CIAA decision is implemented.
Ministers pushing for illegal decisions: Secys
Meanwhile, secretaries at various ministries on Sunday accused the ministers concerned of pressing them to take illicit decisions. In a meeting organized by the CIAA and attended by four dozen secretaries including Chief Secretary Madhav Ghimire, the secretaries said that they were unable to deliver in an effective, fair and timely manner due to massive pressure from the ministers.
In the meeting, Chief Secretary Ghimire asked the secretaries to immediately lodge complaints at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) if they come under any pressure from ministers. CIAA Secretary Bhagwati Kafle asked the secretaries to take appropriate steps to control rampant corruption at local bodies.
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