Birgunj, July 6 The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development has initiated an investigation into the controversy related to the latest recruitment bid at Birgunj Sub-metropolis. The probe is in response to a complaint filed with the ministry that claims irregularities in the process started by the sub-metropolis. The complaint has further identified the call for applications for new recruitment and promotion of serving candidates as unlawful and reasoned that the move was driven by the malicious intention to engage in financial irregularities. A two-member team of the ministry’s good governance department is in Birgunj and has started the probe. Birgunj sub-metropolis Executive Officer Bishnu Prasad Koirala conceded that a team from the concerned ministry had arrived in Birgunj for the probe. “As there was a complaint filed with the ministry, the team is here for investigation,” he said. Earlier, following the complaint, the sub-metropolis had halted the recruitment and promotion process on June 29 citing the verbal ruling of the concerned ministry. The sub-metropolis had issued a formal notice, notifying that the process had been put on hold until further notice. In the third week of May, the sub-metropolis had called for applications for 37 posts of planning officer, non-gazetted first class officer, ranger, computer assistant, assistant nursing mid-wife and staff nurse under the open category, while 20 other posts under internal category were meant to be filled through promotions of serving staff. In the open category, as many as 3,000 persons had applied, from which the municipality raked in well over Rs 4 million. Speaking on the matter, Joint-secretary Guru Prasad Subedi of MoFALD clarified that the recruitment process would be revoked in view of the fact that the sub-metropolis already had more than enough staff. Koirala said the call for applications was made on the ground of exigency. “It’s true that the sub-metropolis has 600 staffers, but they are not skilled,” he said, adding that the call for applications was made in line with the decision of the town council.