Kathmandu. The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration has sought clarification from 4 employees who have been absent from the office for a long time with the residence permit of foreign countries.

Issuing a notice, the Ministry has initiated legal process against them for not attending the office where their office is over and staying abroad after the expiry of the leave. According to the ministry, they have obtained temporary residence permit, permanent residence permit and diversity visa (DV).

There is a legal provision that a civil servant is not allowed to obtain or apply for a residence permit in a foreign country while in office. They were asked to furnish an explanation as they had violated the Civil Service Act by being absent instead of being present in the office within 30 days of the expiry of the approved leave.

According to the Ministry, the Civil Service Act, 2049 BS has asked them to furnish clarification with satisfactory grounds and evidence within 15 days as there is a need to take action against them to be found disqualified for government service in the future.

Likewise, Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration Pratibha Rawal said surveillance has been stepped up to further strengthen discipline and accountability in the civil service. Stating that the Ministry was committed to maintaining discipline in the civil service, Minister Rawal said that a study was underway to find out the condition of those employees who are absent in the office and necessary decision would be taken as per the law.

The Ministry has also intensified the study and search for other employees who have been living abroad in absence from the office and have been out of contact for a long time.