Kathmandu, October 9

The Ministry of General Administration today warned of stern action against government employees filing candidacy for the upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections.

The warning of the MoGA comes as political parties, including the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the CPN-MC, recommended several government employees as candidates for the provincial and parliamentary elections.

MoGA Spokesperson Shiva Ram Neupane said the Civil Service Act 1992 prohibited government employees from contesting elections. “We will take stern action against employees contesting the elections,” said Neupane. He said the ministry could sack government employees contesting elections and also disqualify them from entering the service in future.

According to Spokesperson Neupane, the ministry has already begun investigation into reports that civil servants are allegedly contesting the elections. “We have sought clarification from some employees, who have been recommended as poll candidates, but they expressed ignorance about their name being recommended for polls,” he added.

He informed the MoGA would issue a circular to all concerned government offices to investigate reports of employees being recommended as candidates by the parties.

State Minister for MoGA Ongdi Sherpa said the ministry would draw the attention of all government offices and concerned ministries to investigate involvement of civil servants in active politics. “We will take news reports and public concerns seriously and take action against those employees contesting the elections without tendering resignation,” said Sherpa. He however, said that the ministry did not have authentic information about employees contesting the elections.