Jul 01, Kathmandu - Controversy has flared over the cooling period included in the Bill to make provisions regarding the formation, operation and conditions of service of the Federal Civil Service.

Not only the opposition but also the ruling party MPs have expressed dissatisfaction over the addition of the word 'except' in the report passed by the committee.

Janardan Sharma, Deputy General Secretary of the Maoist Center, has insisted that an investigation should be conducted into the manipulation of the 'cooling period' provision in the Federal Civil Service Act.

Similarly, UML leader Padam Giri said that the changes made to the cooling period provisions in the Federal Civil Service Bill were a serious conspiracy and that those involved should leave their positions on moral grounds and face action.

Members of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee have also raised demands for the resignation of Chairman Ram Hari Khatiwada, alleging that the cooling period was rigged.

CPN-Unified Socialist MP Rajendra Pandey said that such serious negligence would not have happened without the support of the committee chairman and that he should resign.

There was a unanimous decision in the State Affairs Committee of the Parliament to make a provision in the law that an employee cannot hold any constitutional, diplomatic or other government appointment for two years after retirement or resignation.

However, the protest has started saying that the interests of senior administrators with the direct involvement of committee chairman Khatiwada were inserted into the Federal Civil Service Bill and passed by the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Khatiwada has said that he will take moral responsibility for the weaknesses seen in the cooling period included in the bill.

In the committee meeting on Tuesday, Maoist lawmakers Madhav Sapkota and Kalpana Miyan demanded an answer on how the word 'except' was added to the report passed by the committee. Khatiwada said that he will take moral responsibility for the weaknesses.