According to a senior government official privy to the development, the ordinance is "almost" ready and has been kept confidential among the prime minister and only a few government secretaries. [break]
The ordinance proposes to reinstate in their previous positions those civil servants who were forced to quit the service or resigned under compulsion during the conflict period.
"Some civil servants who were dismissed from government service on ideological grounds were subjected to injustice during the conflict period," said Devendra Paudel, the prime minister´s political advisor," The erstwhile government led by Girija Prasad Koirala had decided to reinstate them and the government had started working on that basis."
The ordinance, however, is silent about reinstating those who deserted from the Nepal Army, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Police.
Experts on the bureaucracy said the ordinance, if passed, will have far-reaching ramifications for the bureaucracy.
"It is the height of stupidity to mull bringing in such an ordinance. Nothing more will be required for the degeneration of the bureaucracy if this ordinance is promulgated," said former secretary Khem Raj Nepal.
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