April 25, Kathmandu – The government has introduced a new proposal to enforce a cooling period of up to two years for employees retiring from the civil service, during which they will not be allowed to serve in any other position. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration released the draft bill on Friday afternoon, which includes a provision barring former Chief Secretaries, Secretaries, and Joint Secretaries from appointment to constitutional, diplomatic, or other government posts for two years after leaving their positions. This regulation will apply to employees who either retire mandatorily or resign voluntarily.
Besides higher-level officials, other employees will also be subject to a two-year cooling period. During this time, they will be prohibited from working as staff or consultants on projects or programs managed by any entity except intergovernmental organizations or international development partners. The proposal also stipulates that within one year of retirement, former employees cannot work as staff or consultants with organizations affiliated with their previous workplace or those regulated by that body. Those who violate this provision will forfeit their service benefits as per the law.
A two-year cooling period arrangement was also included in the earlier federal civil service bill. During discussions in the State Affairs Committee, current Chief Secretary Eknarayan Aryal, Federal Parliament Secretary Padma Prasad Pandey, Secretary Kiran Raj Sharma, Radhika Aryal, and Krishnahari Pushkar collectively opposed the cooling period provision. While passing the bill, the federal parliament formed an investigative committee due to disagreements arising from the addition and removal of certain clauses. The controversy surrounding this issue led to the resignation of Ramhari Khatiwada, the chair of the State Affairs Committee.
