Kathmandu: The special committee formed to investigate the error in the Federal Civil Service Bill has submitted its report to the House of Representatives, identifying serious lapses in the drafting process—particularly related to the controversial 'cooling period' provision.

Presenting the findings, Committee Coordinator Jeevan Pariyar said the lack of clause-wise discussion and the absence of a system to integrate the draft report with the original bill were the main causes of the error. He emphasized that officials responsible for key tasks failed to carry out their duties.

The committee's report described the legal inconsistency between subsections 4 and 5 of section 82 as a serious flaw. It stated:

“Those in charge of the defined responsibilities did not appear to have played their roles responsibly.”

The committee has recommended that responsible political figures be held accountable for their political and moral obligations, while civil servants should face consequences for their legal and positional responsibilities. It also suggested implementing an integrated review system to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

In a related statement, CPN (Maoist Center) MP Madhav Sapkota said the mistake could not be dismissed as a minor oversight. He accused State Affairs and Good Governance Committee Chairman Ramhari Khatiwada and the committee secretary of making deliberate errors.

Describing Khatiwada’s conduct as “mysterious”, Sapkota claimed that the committee concluded he failed to fulfill his official responsibilities and demanded their resignation on moral grounds.

The issue of the 'cooling period' clause has sparked widespread criticism, with lawmakers and civil society questioning the bill's integrity and the legislative process.