Kathmandu: The Special Committee for Study and Investigation formed to probe alleged irregularities in the Federal Civil Service Bill has finalized its working procedure. The controversy revolves around the ‘cooling period’ provision, which has raised widespread public and political concern over potential manipulation in the bill’s language.

Committee Coordinator and Nepali Congress Joint General Secretary Jeevan Pariyar informed media after Wednesday's meeting at Singha Durbar that the committee had started drafting procedures on Tuesday and has now finalized them. The next step is formal approval, he said.

The cooling period clause—meant to regulate entry into the civil service—reportedly contains errors or deliberate changes that could benefit vested interests. The issue has sparked debates on parliamentary integrity, with concerns that external influence may have reached the legislative process under the guise of parliamentary supremacy.

The House of Representatives formed the seven-member investigation committee on Monday under Rule 18 of the Rules of Parliament, 2075. The committee includes:

-Jeevan Pariyar (Coordinator, Nepali Congress)

-Sushila Thing, Ishwori Gharti, and Narayan Acharya (CPN-UML)

-Madhav Sapkota (CPN-Maoist Center)

-Ganesh Parajuli (Rastriya Swatantra Party)

-Roshan Karki (Rastriya Prajatantra Party)

The committee has been mandated to complete its investigation within 21 days. Its next meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 12:15 p.m.

The findings of this probe are expected to shed light on how the controversial clause entered the bill, who is responsible, and whether there was intentional tampering or a systemic failure.