‘Cooling-Off Period’ Fraud: Hold All Guilty to Account

Ram Hari Khatiwada, Chairperson of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of Parliament, has resigned following a parliamentary probe into the fraudulent alteration of the Federal Civil Service Bill. Had he stepped down before the investigation began—taking moral responsibility from the outset—he could have set a high standard and possibly made history. That opportunity is lost, but even a delayed resignation is better than none, and for that, Khatiwada deserves acknowledgment. Under his leadership, the bill contained a provision requiring a two-year “cooling-off period” before government employees could take new appointments. However, during the final editing of the committee’s report, the provision was deliberately altered. Khatiwada signed the tampered document and sent it to Parliament. Once this manipulation was exposed, a parliamentary investigation committee was formed.