Members of the State Affairs Committee draw Speaker’s attention, demand the resignation of the Chairperson and the Secretary

Kathmandu – The officers of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee have drawn the Speaker’s attention regarding unauthorized changes made in the Civil Service Bill.

On Tuesday, they met Speaker Devraj Ghimire to raise their concerns.

During discussions with journalists, the committee leaders demanded that responsible officials must resign and also a thorough, factual investigation be conducted. The Committee’s Chairperson, Ramhari Khatiwada and Secretary, Suraj Dura, have been called upon to resign on ethical grounds, as stated by the officials after meeting the Speaker.

UML MP Padam Giri demanded that anyone responsible should relinquish their post on grounds of morality. He stated:

“Initially, it was supposed to retain a two-year cooling‑off period. But astonishingly, a report exempting the Chief Secretary, Secretary, and Joint Secretary was issued — and was passed by parliament. This is a serious conspiracy and a mockery of the committee, undermining the dignity of sovereign parliament. Whoever carried this out must face ruthless action. Until it is resolved, the Good Governance Committee cannot proceed. Those responsible must resign on ethical grounds and face consequences.”

Similarly, Maoist MP Janardan Sharma noted that Speaker Ghimire admitted he was not informed about these changes. He said:

“Regarding the cooling‑off period dispute, the committee exceeded what was intended. The Chairperson stated it happened without his knowledge, and the Secretary claimed it was a natural wording. This is a contemptuous act that undermines our sovereign right — a conspiracy and mischief. Therefore, it must first be investigated.”

He added that after investigation, responsibility should be fixed—whether on the Secretary, the Chair, or the committee. Otherwise, whom can the people trust in this country?

Maoist MP Madhav Sapkota also demanded resignations, calling it fraudulent and legally serious. He pointed out that even if the Chair wasn’t involved, how did a provision opposite to his signature appear? He emphasized, “On ethical grounds, the Chair and Secretary must resign first. A high-level or parliamentary investigation committee must be formed, and those involved must be seriously punished. Otherwise, parliamentary supremacy will not be upheld.”

MPs from UML and Maoist parties described this as an attack on parliamentary sovereignty and demanded it be taken seriously. Congress MPs also demanded a serious investigation. Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala called the unauthorized changes in the Civil Service Bill a grave offense.