KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 2

The much-anticipated Civil Service Bill has finally been passed by the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament, on Tuesday-the last day allowed for its passage. Notably, the Bill ensures a mandatory two-year cooling-off period.

Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Bhagawati Neupane, had tabled the proposal for the passage of the Civil Service Bill, 2080, along with the message received from the House of Representatives. National Assembly Chairman Narayan Dahal subsequently announced the Bill's unanimous approval.

Earlier, Minister Neupane addressed lawmakers' questions and concerns, stressing that the Bill would effectively regulate civil servants in line with the federal structure. 'The NA has created history. Consensus was reached in the spirit of harmony. The Bill will pave the way for the adjustment of civil servants under federalism. Confusion in the civil service will now be resolved,' she stated.

Several NA members, including Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami, Gopal Bhattarai, Radheshyam Paswan, Padam Pariyar, Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma, Renu Chand, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, and Maya Prasad Sharma, also expressed their views during deliberations.

In the first NA meeting on Tuesday, Legislation Management Committee Chair Tulasa Kumari Dahal presented the committee's report on the Bill. She argued that the Bill would strengthen federalism. 'The report ensures that civil servants remain professional and dedicated to their duties, while preventing conflicts of interest in policymaking and enforcement. The Bill also stipulates that civil servants shall not be eligible for government appointments within two years of retirement,' she explained.

The Act will gradually raise the retirement age for civil servants: 58 in the first year of implementation, 59 in the second year, and 60 in the third year.

The controversial provision of a two-year cooling-off period, which had previously stalled the Bill in the lower house, has now been addressed by the NA. However, the Bill must still be endorsed by the House of Representatives once more before being forwarded to the President for final certification.

The next meeting of the National Assembly is scheduled for September 8.

(With inputs from Rastriya Samchar Samiti)