As per the Employees Regulation of the insurance sector regulator, vacancy announcements in the Insurance Board should be made through national dailies and candidates should be given at least 30 days to file applications. [break]
But in the case of Aryal´s appointment, only seven-day notice was issued and the entire process was wrapped up in a relatively short period of time.
Although an amendment made to the regulation days prior to Aryal´s appointment states that qualification, experience, examination and other provisions related to appointment of special class gazette officers can be fixed by the board, it does not specifically mention if application deadline can be shortened.
Such an act has made a mockery of the body responsible for regulating the insurance sector, which deals with billions of rupees of public money.
The appointment process of Aryal officially began on February 4, 2012 with the announcement of the vacant post of executive director through Gorkhapatra, a vernacular daily published by state-owned company. Coincidentally or purposefully, the advertisement was published on Saturday, a public holiday, and only seven days were given to file applications.
Aryal, who was a board member of the Insurance Board at that time, then resigned as board member on February 9, 2012. By next day--Friday--Aryal had filed his candidacy for the post of executive director. One Rajan Chitrakar had also filed candidacy for the same post but his application was dropped citing he “did not meet the qualifications”.
A day later on February 11, 2012, Aryal was asked to make presentation on his business plan as he was the only preferred candidate for the post. And on February 12, 2012, he was formally appointed to the post of executive director.
In a country where feet-dragging is common, wrapping up of the appointment process in less than a week may have painted the picture of highly efficient work culture at the Insurance Board. But apparently that was not the case, sources told Republica.
“Suspicious things in this appointment process are Friday deadline given to candidates to file application and Aryal´s appointment as executive director by Sunday morning,” a reliable source said. “This was done to prevent the disgruntled candidates from moving the court, as it closes Friday afternoon and opens only on Sunday.”
In addition, it is a general practice to include at least three candidates in the selection process for vacant posts at the Insurance Board. “We do that while hiring officials on contract and if minimum number of applications are not received we terminate the entire process and start a fresh one,” a high-ranking official of the board told Republica. “Since this condition was not met, his (Aryal´s) appointment cannot be termed valid.”
Dr Fatta Bahadur KC, chairman of the Insurance Board, said he did not want to comment on the issue. “Since I was also involved in appointment of Aryal, it wouldn´t be appropriate for me to speak on the matter. I´ve already asked a committee to launch an investigation into the matter and will make comments only after it reveals its findings,” he told Republica.
Aryal did not want to comment on the issue. Aryal, who is credited with launching reform measures in the insurance sector, was considered one of the strict enforcers of law in the insurance sector. The man, who passionately talks about good governance and creation of law-abiding society, however, landed in soup after he was found involved in policy corruption and fraud.
Aryal is currently charged with abusing his post as board director to introduce a directive that allowed owners of insured earth moving vehicles to demand hundred percent compensation in case of total loss.
With the change in legal provision, his company, Aryal Construction, is said to have profited around Rs 1.5 million.
He is also charged with demanding compensation for total loss of jet ski -- owned by a company promoted by him -- by purchasing insurance policy after occurrence of the accident. Aryal has denied these allegations.
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