In a written reply to a Supreme Court (SC) order to furnish clarifications over alleged contempt of court, Poudyal has said that he could not even think of acting in such contempt. [break]
Poudyal has stated that he has always respected the court´s orders and directives and implemented them with priority while holding various post in the past, and in his capacity as chief secretary also he has been issuing instructions for implementation of the court´s orders.
Stating that as chief secretary he has been working as per the laws, Poudyal said that the allegations made against him by Hada were ´completely false´.
Clarifying about the procedure followed in Hada´s transfer, Poudyal stated that she was transferred as per the recommendation made by a committee comprising the chief secretary and the secretary of the ministry of general administration and formed in accordance with Clause 18 (2) of the Civil Service Act, 2049.
The chief secretary claimed that the transfer and deputation of Hada does not attract Clause 36 (12) of the Civil Service Regulations, 2050, which state that a civil servant who has already served as chief at any ministry, department, central body or district office cannot be transferred to a lower body without his/her compliance.
The reply further states that the Office of the Comptroller is not a lower body than the Ministry of Irrigation, from where Hada was transferred.
Poudyal said that the government can transfer any special class or first class official as per the recommendation -- binding on the government -- of the committee comprising the chief secretary and the secretary at the ministry of general administration.
The chief secretary has claimed that Hada had not raised any questions about her transfer to the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare from the Prime Minister´s Office, from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare to the National Information Commission, from the National Information Commission to the Nepal Trust Office or from the Nepal Trust Office to the Ministry of Irrigation.
"That makes it clear that she has questioned her recent transfer with the ill intention of hampering government work and also to get me into trouble," the clarification further reads.
Acting on Hada´s contempt of court application, the SC on Monday summoned Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Chief Secretary Poudyal to furnish clarifications for preventing Hada from working as secretary at the Ministry of Irrigation.
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