Rastriya Swatantra Party Issues Directive on Appointing Personal Secretaries for Federal MPs

Kathmandu. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has issued an internal directive regarding the appointment and management of personal secretaries for its federal MPs. According to the directive issued by party General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya, RSP MPs will no longer be able to appoint a member of their immediate family or close relative as a personal secretary.

Following the recent decision by the Council of Ministers to allow federal parliament members to have one personal secretary equivalent to a Gazetted Third Class (Branch Officer level), RSP has brought in such a policy to prevent misuse of state funds and ensure transparency.

The directive states, 'In appointing a personal secretary, nepotism and dynasticism are completely prohibited in accordance with the party's ideology and good governance policy. This appointment must be made only from outside the family circle.'

MPs will have to adopt a public call or open competitive method when selecting a personal secretary. For this, the parliamentary party will prepare a common advertisement format and applications will be invited only on that basis.

The minimum educational qualification set by the Federal Parliament Secretariat (completion of bachelor's degree) has been made mandatory for personal secretaries. Priority is to be given to individuals with expertise, technological skills, and research capabilities. Furthermore, RSP has adopted a policy to encourage women, marginalized, and backward classes in appointments.

Deducting, collecting, or misappropriating any amount from the personal secretary's salary is strictly prohibited. 'The arrangement to directly deposit the salary into the personal secretary's bank account must be ensured,' the directive states, 'Any financial irregularity in such an act will be considered a serious act of indiscipline.'

Before appointing the candidate selected by the MP, final approval must be obtained from the RSP Parliamentary Party. A copy of the appointed secretary's biodata and educational certificate must also be registered at the party's central office.

A warning has also been issued that if anyone is found to have created a secretary only on paper to receive benefits or appointed a relative, the party's Central Disciplinary Committee will take immediate action.