KATHMANDU: The much awaited legislation, Civil Service Bill- has been finally passed by the National Assembly, the upper house of the federal parliament on Tuesday, the last day for the passage. Importantly, the two-year cooling off period is ensured in the Bill.

Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Bhagawati Neupane, had tabled a proposal, seeking the passage of the Civil Service Bill, 2080 along with the message received from the House of Representatives.

National Assembly Chairman Narayan Dahal announced the unanimous passage of the bill.

Earlier, Minister Neupane responded to the queries and concern raised by the lawmakers. She argued that the Bill would finely manage civil employees as per federalism. “NA has created a history. Consenus was reached with utmost harmony. The Bill will pave way for adjustment of the civil employees in line with federal system. Confusion in civil service will fizzle out,” she explained.

NA members Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami, Gopal Bhattarai, Radheshyam Paswan, Padam Pariyar, Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma, Renu Chand, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya and Maya Prasad Sharma put forth their views in the deliberations.

In the first meeting of the NA on Tuesday itself, Legislation Management Committee Chair Tulasa Kumari Dahal presented the report on the Bill. She argued the Bill would strengthen the federalism.

“The report on the Bill has the provision that makes civil servant professional and committed to their duties and avoids conflict of interest in policy making and enforcement. The Bill has managed that civil servant would not be allowed to secure any government appointment till the two years’ of his/her retirement,” she mentioned.

Similarly, the age limit for civil servant will be effective at 58 in the first year of the enforcement of the Act, at 59 in the second year of the Act, and 60 in the third year of the Act.

Irrespective of the controversy mired on provision of two-year cooling off period that botched up the passage of the Bill earlier from the lower house now addressed well by the NA. However, it is yet to be endorsed by the lower house again before moving to the President for final certification.

The NA will meet next on September 8.