Although initially it had been mandatory for even retired civil servants to declare whether they hold any residency permit (like Green Cards) or citizenship of a foreign country, the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday maintained a conspicuous silence over the issue, said Minister for General Administration Lal Babu Pandit.

Similarly, the new Civil Service Act also stays mum over whether the family members of civil servants can hold any kind of PR, DV or foreign citizenship.

“These two issues, which were initially incorporated in the draft proposal of the Civil Service Act, courted much controversy during Cabinet meetings. It is now the parliament’s job to take up these issues and make a final decision,” said Pandit, who is upbeat about the swift passage of the act which has generated a lot of debate and attention across national public spheres.

According to Minister Pandit, after President Ram Baran Yadav certifies the Act, all civil servants who are currently serving should declare whether they hold any residence permit of a foreign country.

“As of now, I have prepared a list of 400 government employees who have obtained some kind of residence permits to stay in a foreign country of their choice,” said Minister Pandit, adding, “I hope more will voluntarily declare their status once the Act gets clearance from the President.”

He said after declaring their status, civil servants holding foreign PR will be given a one-month deadline to provide documents and affidavits that they have forgone such privilege, if any. However, if such civil servants are found to have not given up their PR status even after two months, s/he will be sacked from civil service,” said Minister Pandit.  

As per the amendment, those sacked from civil service in this manner will be entitled to money deposited in their provident fund and insurance coverage only.

The new Act also forbids government employees from juggling two jobs; i.e, working in private sector as consultants while continuing to function as a government official.  It also objects to government officials teaching in private institutions as experts. “If any one is found to be working as a consultant or teaching in private institutions, either stringent action will be taken against them or they will be sacked from their jobs immediately,” Pandit said.

For the first time, the Act has also decided to set up separate services for foreign and judicial services by considering them as specialised services.

The Act forbids government employees in other services such as administrative and technical to be transferred to foreign or judicial services and also ensures that officials from other services can not be promoted into high-level posts such as secretaries in judicial or foreign services.   After being considered as specialised services, the foreign and judicial services will also have their own rules and regulations.

“I am glad to note that my efforts to take actions against civil servants holding any kind of permanent residency or citizenship of a foreign country have been partially fulfilled. I hope the rest of the provisions which I wanted to incorporate in the act will be duly reviewed by the parliament,” he added.