KATHMANDU, March 18 -- The post of Additional Secretary has been removed from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the draft of the Bill, 2080 presented in parliament to provide for the formation, operation and conditions of service of the Federal Civil Service that was submitted by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MOFADA) to the Council of Ministers and the PMO. The government registered this personnel legislation in parliament on March 4.

While senior employees appointed directly as joint secretaries express contentment with the omission, joint secretaries, undersecretaries, and section officers awaiting promotion express discontent. Intense lobbying is underway from both factions to either retain or remove t...