Now that the Ministry of Education has formed a three-member investigation committee under Ganesh Dhakal, an undersecretary at the ministry, we hope it can get to the bottom of the reported irregularities at Sajha Prakashan. It would not be wrong to say that since the appointment of Dolendra Prasad Sharma as its chairman and GM, Sajha has pretty much been run as his personal fief. Among other things, Sharma stands accused of abuse of authority, making vital decisions without the permission of the Sajha governing board, of misappropriating funds and of forging documents. The erstwhile Pushpa Kamal Dahal government had last December provided Rs 300 million to Sajha, to compensate its retired staff, to repay outstanding loans and for the upgrade of office infrastructure.  Of the Rs 300 million, Rs 150 million was used to repay its loans to the Janak Education Materials Center, and another 30 million covered bank interest. There are no solid documentary proofs of these payments. Still, that is a total of Rs 180 million of expenses. Where did the remaining Rs 120 million go? Sajha claims that the remaining money was spent on golden handshakes for its retired staff. But the retired officials claim to have so far gotten just 20 percent of the due amount; unlike Sajha’s claims, they have not been paid in full. 

This is just one example of the publisher’s deeply flawed modus operandi under Sharma. Another is its recent hiring. Sajha’s bylaws clearly state that new staff is not to be appointed when officials with at least 20 years of experience are given golden handshakes. Yet Sharma at the end of January made 85 new appointments, even though they would be replacing the old officials who had served for at least 20 years. Interestingly, most of these new appointees were close relatives of powerful political leaders and of GM Sharma, and the appointments were made after the election code of conduct had come into effect. For example, among those appointed are Gita Paudel (a sister of ex-education minister Dhaniram Paudel) and Nirmala Nepali and Yashoda Bhattarai (appointed on the direct recommendation of Renu Dahal, the ex-prime minister’s daughter). These appointments were not just against Sajha bylaws. The publication had itself committed—in its ‘statement of commitments and programs’ submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office a year ago—not to hire any new staff as it was in a deep financial hole.   
There are many-many other cases of recent irregularities at Sajha. Finally, the education ministry has put together a probe committee. While we hope that the committee can properly do its job, we doubt much will come out of it. For Sharma clearly has the backing of powerful politicians who are ready to stand by him through thick and thin; for if Sharma finds himself in the dock, they too would have to face uncomfortable questions and perhaps even criminal charges. As such, the committee could be no more than a smokescreen to protect Sharma. If not, Sharma should be summarily removed from his job and made subject to criminal investigation. Only such strong government action will reassure people that there is still rule of law in their country. 

 
• sajha prakashan
 
• janak education materials center
 
• dolendra prasad sharma
 
• ex-education minister dhaniram paudel