President Bhandari underscores CIAA’s role for good governance; appoints six advisors

Kathmandu / February 4: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) here Thursday submitted its annual report of Fiscal Year 2071/072 to President Bidya Devi Bhandari amid a programme held at the Rastrapati Bhawan Shital Niwas.

Receiving the report submitted by CIAA Chief Commissioner Lokman Singh Karki, President Bhandari said that the CIAA has significant role in ensuring good governance by making the government accountable. “Ethical responsibility has an important role in curbing corruption,” argued Bhandari.

She was of the opinion that since both the people’s elected representatives and civil servants are to govern the country, they ought to be ethical while discharging their duties.

President Bhandari further drew the attention of the anti-graft body towards the investigation of the anti-national policy-level decisions if need be. She was of the view that the CIAA should induct the civil servants who are moral and ethical and efficient in discharging their duties.

As for the confusion and commotion created in lack of the mention ‘illegal act’ under the jurisdiction of the CIAA in the newly promulgated constitution, Bhandari asserted that it could be discussed and deliberated.

Of the total 31,213 complaints registered in CIAA last fiscal year, 21,648 were settled, states the report. “Of the total resolved cases, 14,748 were settled in the Centre, 6,846 in regional office and 21 in the District Administration Office,” shared CIAA Chief Commissioner Karki.

Karki added that 303 cases were registered in the Special Court. Similarly, of the total Rs 1.4 billion seizures sought from 903 defendants, of which 828 were male and 75 women, CIAA has collected fine amounting to around Rs 120 million, according to the report.

Also, under the CIAA’s initiation, a land spaning 660 ropani has been instructed to be registered in the name of government. CIAA has achieved 82 per cent of success in the total 108 cases it filed in the court, the report unfolds. The CIAA has also placed a system wherein the monitoring of the projects of national pride in across the country was being carried out through its officers, according to Chief Commissioner Karki.

Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari has appointed six experts from various sectors as her advisors Thursday.

Those appointed are Dhanharka Rai ( Homtang-8, Bhojpur), Sushil Pyakurel ( Kalanki, Kathmandu), Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai ( Kalikasthan, Kathmandu), Dr Meena Acharya (Baneshwor, Kathmandu), Jagannath Mahaseth ( Janakpur-9, Dhanusha), and Madhav Sharma ( Pokhara-7, Kaski), the Office of the President said in press statement.

Meanwhile, President Bhandari bade farewell to Secretary Tek Prasad Dhungana who was transferred to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Federal Affairs from the Office of the President amidst a programme at the Shital Niwas today.

On the occasion, the President welcomed new Secretary Bhupendra Prasad Poudyal to the Office of President. Poudyal assumed his office today itself, according to the Office Spokesperson Khadananda Dhakal. RSS