KATHMANDU, July 12: Most of the lawmakers from the major political parties have demanded lenient provisions for civil servants in the Civil Servants Adjustment Bill in the parliament.
Majority of lawmakers from the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) demanded revision on the bill with moderate provisions on some strict policies for the civil servants, while taking part on the principle deliberations on the bill.
The bill states that the government can terminate the service of civil servants, without furnishing any important reason, if they don't attend the deputed office within 35 days. Section 6 of the bill has explained that civil servants will get travel duration in addition to the deadline and the deadline counts only after their sick leave, parenthood or other leave finishes.
“Removing civil servants from the post without understanding their difficulties is injustice and the provision contradicts the principle of natural justice,” said Maoist Center lawmaker Janak Raj Joshi. Joshi is a retired government secretary-turned lawmaker.
He also criticized various provisions of the bill, advocating for the rights of the civil servants.
Bill bars local units from recruiting civil servants
UML lawmaker Rameshwor Phuyal, who also turned into politics from civil service, criticized the bill stating that it contradicts the Civil Service Act and other existing laws. “Bureaucracy is permanent government and it should have high morale for effective implementation of federalism in the country. But removing civil servants from the post only if they fail to attend the deputed office within 35 days without understanding their difficulties will create trouble,” said Phuyal.
Also, Bharat Bahadur Khadka of NC said that removing those civil servants failing to attend the deputed office from their post is not justifiable.
In contrary to other lawmakers' views, Maoist lawmaker Ram Narayan Bidari claimed that the civil servants won't attend office unless they are punished. “We should punish them if they don't appear at the deputed office within 35 days and the duration is more than enough. No one attends if we don't punish them,” said Birari.
Birari also suggested barring trade union activities at local levels and more facilities to those deployed in remote areas and local level than those in Kathmandu and urban areas. Nepal Loktantrik Forum lawmaker Gopal Dahit opined that civil servants must attend their deputed office no later than two weeks.
Dilli Kafle of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party also criticized the civil servants for not changing the mindset even after political change in the country. “Our civil servants do not go to the deployed area if we don't have strict rules. Government has some civil servants in Singha Durbar who will not be deputed elsewhere due to their political backup. Even the general administration minister said he can't transfer civil servants to Jumla due to political pressure,” said Kafle.
Taking part during the deliberations, most of the lawmakers suggested removal of halting of civil servants' recruitment for a year stating that is not fair and will be against the career development of the civil servants. The bill has proposed a halt in recruitment of civil servants for a year for adjustment in the new federal structure. “Halt on recruitment will force competitive manpower to go abroad,” said former general administration minister and Maoist lawmaker Rekha Sharma.
House has decided to allow the lawmakers to register amendment on the bill within 72 hours.
