Ramhari Khatiwada resigns as committee chair amid ‘cooling-off period’ controversy

Summary

Ramhari Khatiwada resigned as chair of the State Affairs Committee amid controversy over tampering a 'cooling-off period' clause in the Federal Civil Service Bill, citing political integrity.

Key Points
  • Ramhari Khatiwada resigned as chair of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee over the cooling-off period controversy.
  • A special parliamentary committee found Khatiwada not personally guilty but recommended he bear political and moral responsibility.
  • The controversy involved alteration of a provision prohibiting retired civil servants from taking government appointments for two years.
  • Khatiwada cited intense bureaucratic pressure and accepted a personal shortcoming for not spotting the altered clause during bill passage.
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