Kathmandu: The lower House of the federal parliament, House of Representatives (HoR), passed the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2082 with a dozen of new provisions on Sunday. The Bill was registered in the parliament one and a half years ago.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Bill includes a significant provision of a two-year cooling-off period. This stipulation bars civil servants from accepting public appointments, both constitutional and diplomatic, for two years following retirement. This provision had previously sparked intense debate among lawmakers and top bureaucrats, leading to efforts by officials to secure their interests before the implementation of the cooling-off period.
Since its registration, the Bill has been the subject of debate on key points such as retirement age, lateral entry, entry age for men and women in civil service, cooling-off period, arrangement of additional secretary positions, and the term of the chief secretary. The retirement age is set to extend by two years to 60, phased over three years. Initially, civil servants will retire at 58, then at 59 in the next fiscal year, and finally at 60 in the third fiscal year.
Additionally, the provision for the position of additional secretary has been included. The current method of recruiting Joint Secretary (gazetted first class) through free competition has been removed, allowing free competition entry only up to the post of gazetted second class or undersecretary. The upper age limit for women entering civil service has been reduced by one year to 39.
The State Affairs Committee of the parliament conducted several rounds of debate to ensure the Bill aligns with the needs of the federal administration. Following its passage in the HoR, the Bill will move to the upper House, National Assembly. After the National Assembly passes it, the Bill will require authentication from the President, followed by its publication in the gazette.
Lawmakers including Rekha Sharma, Prem Suwal, Prakash Jwala, Mahendra Bahdur Shahi, Janardan Sharma, Aman Lal Modi, Ranendra Baraili, and Prabhu Sah participated in the Sunday discussion on the Bill. Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Raj Kumar Gupta, presented the proposal seeking the passage of the Bill.
The HoR is scheduled to meet next on July 7.