SC seeks written clarification from PM on secy Hada's transfer

Brinda Hada

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and chief secretary Lilamani Poudel to furnish written clarification on the controversial transfer of secretary Brinda Hada to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) within four days.

A single bench of justice Tahir Ali Ansari issued the ruling. The bench also ordered the Irrigation minister Mahendra Yadav and the secretary Pratap Kumar Pathak to appear before the court within seven days to clarify the reasons behind her transfer.

The SC had issued a stay order on the decision to transfer her on August 23, asking the government to retain Hada in her previous position as the secretary of Ministry of Irrigation, until final verdict.

Before being transferred to the PMO, Hada was sent to the Auditor General's Office on deputation. In the writ petition filed on August 22, she said she was transferred twice within two weeks and that she was neither consulted nor informed about the reasons behind her transfer.

Hada, the only woman government secretary, was one of the aspirants of chief secretary before the government appointed Lilamani Poudel to the top post in the civil service. nepalnews.com