South Asian News Network

Kathmandu, Sept 17: The government has been waiting for inputs from the Public Service Commission (PSC) on a draft bill relating to civil service before giving it a final shape. The bill is being brought for revamping the federal civil service- structures, operation, terms and condition, career development, transfer and promotion. It is expected to make the civil administration further systematic, accountable and competent. The draft bill has been sent to PSC after receiving suggestions from the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. It is forwarded to PSC in line with the legal provision. Once it is received from the constitutional body, the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration will submit it before the Council of Ministers along with recommendations. Spokesperson at Ministry, Ekadev Adhikari, informed RSS that the PSC was expected to furnish recommendation within a week. Currently, the pressing concern in the draft bill is the age limit for government service. Adhikari added that the new bill has incorporated a provision for retirement to those completing 30 years of service or 55 years of age as a one-off scheme. For the remaining ones, it will be 60 years of age for retirement. Spokesperson Adhikari further informed that Finance Ministry had already agreed the one-off provision, so it would not cause any adverse impact. As those retiring at 55 receive the facilities equal to the service period of 58, it would not curtail facilities and incentives of the government employees, according to him. The draft document has also laid emphasis on smooth administrative relations among federal, province and local governments. The voice for amending the provisions on service, groups/sub-groups, recruitment, employees’ code and incentives was made for long. In absence of new law on federal civil service irrespective of the enforcement of federal system with three tiers of government in place for long, it created several practical problems in organizational management of government employees. Legal clarity was sought for adjustment of government employees in the federal, provincial and local levels. Inter-governmental coordination and transfer was also awaiting attention. Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration, Pratibha Rawal, had already announced in the House of Representatives meeting that once the bill was mature, it would be submitted in the parliament. Meanwhile, spokesperson at PSC, Purushottam Sharma, informed RSS that PSC was conducting study and consultations on the draft bill on federal civil service. —-