Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Lal Babu Pandit has said the government has halted the voluntary retirement scheme for civil employees.

Talking to media persons in Biratnagar on Tuesday, Minister Pandit said it was necessary to encourage government staffers into work rather than giving them holidays at a time when the newly adopted federalism is in the implementation phase.

“All should understand that voluntary retirement is not a right it is a facility,” he said, adding, “Government staffers have been served ultimatum to go to the places they have been deployed. They will be removed as per the law if they do not abide by the direction.”

Minister Pandit said integration process of civil servants will start in a new structure after the deployed staffers report their duty.

Earlier, the government had initiated the voluntary retirement process for the employees unwilling to continue their jobs after the country adopted a new federal set-up.

Saying the secretaries were transferred by Cabinet decision, Minister Pandit said no one should be disappointed by it.

“Secretaries were transferred in the ministries as per the Cabinet decision,” he said. “As the Prime Minister has the right to transfer secretaries, the decision to transfer secretaries was made after holding a discussion with the Prime Minister. So, no one should express their dissatisfaction,” he added.

Moreover, Minister Pandit said as the secretaries have already been transferred, there will be no reshuffle of the secretaries immediately.