KATHMANDU, March 14: A meeting of the Sajha Management Board held on Tuesday decided to seek clarification from Dolindra Prasad Sharma, former general manager (GM) of the Sajha Prakashan, who was recently deputed to the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation (MoMCPA).
The meeting has sought clarification from Sharma within three days for working against the interests of the 105-year old Sajha Prakashan. “If the board does not become satisfied with his clarification, action will be taken against him,” said one of the board members. A decision of the cabinet on March 3 deputed controversial Sharma to the MoMCPA until further decision. The cabinet also appointed under-secretary Rishi Ram Pangeni of MoMCPA as GM of Sajha Prakashan.
Let Sajha rise
Interestingly, Sharma was appointed as Sajha GM by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST). After the MoEST sought clarification from then GM Sharma for not maintaining office works transparent, then deputy prime minister and education minister Gopal Man Shrestha sacked Sharma in September, 2017 on the charges of multiple irregularities. However, Sharma moved the Supreme Court, which issued a stay order not to implement the decision of the ministry.
However, the board meeting of the state-owned publication decided to seek clarification as per the Sajha Prakashan Employees Regulation 2073 (30.1). The meeting was attended by Sajha chairman Raghu Ram Bishta, GM Pangeni, members, Hari Har Khanal, DP Aryal, Mukti Subedi and Bijaya Subba. According to Subba, the elected member of the Sajha Prakashan Management Board and a lawmaker, the board meeting has also decided to operate joint bank account in the names of new GM Pangeni and Hom Bhattarai, senior staff of the publication. Meanwhile, Dolindra moved the Supreme Court (SC) against the cabinet decision to transfer him to the ministry. The apex court on Monday scrapped his writ.
