KATHMANDU:  The controversy surrounding the manipulation of the Civil Service Bill has intensified, with lawmakers across party lines demanding a high-level investigation and raising serious questions about the role of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee’s leadership.

At a meeting of the committee on Wednesday, CPN (Maoist Center) Chief Whip Hit Raj Pandey said the tampering was not a minor issue, but a grave conspiracy aimed at discrediting Parliament.

“A high-level parliamentary probe committee must be formed. Everyone from the committee chair to the secretary must be investigated, and those found guilty must face strict punishment,” he said.

He also recalled several obstacles the bill faced during drafting and claimed that the challenges were part of a coordinated effort to sabotage the legislation.

Maoist Center MP Durga Rai took the accusations further, openly questioning whether Committee Chair Ram Hari Khatiwada and Secretary Suraj Kumar Dura had been directed by external forces to manipulate the bill.

“This is not something that can be solved by Khatiwada’s resignation alone. Lawmaking is not a minor issue—this is a conspiracy that can set the country back,” she said. “Only the top leadership, including the Prime Minister, can make a final decision on this matter. The chair and secretary were used by those at a higher level.”

Adding to the criticism, Janata Samajwadi Party lawmaker Prakash Adhikari claimed there was a deliberate plot to prevent the Civil Service Act from being enacted. “This is a shameful incident. The manipulation of the cooling-off period clause has a wider impact, even on the Police Act. This must be investigated thoroughly,” he said.

Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Rajkumar Gupta also voiced concern, saying it was suspicious that Committee Chair Khatiwada was now pointing fingers at the minister himself. “The situation where the chair is trying to blame the minister is questionable in itself,” Gupta noted.

The controversy began after a key provision in the Civil Service Bill—barring individuals who resign or retire from government service from holding any government-appointed positions for two years—was altered when the bill was passed by the House of Representatives.

The State Affairs and Good Governance Committee had unanimously approved the original provision, but its revised form in the final bill sparked outrage.

Leaders from across the political spectrum, including those from the ruling parties such as Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Thapa of Nepali Congress and Surya Bahadur Thapa of CPN-UML, criticized the changes.

Committee Chair Ram Hari Khatiwada, who has also called for an investigation, had publicly stated earlier that he would resign if found responsible for the wrongdoing.