Kathmandu: Independent Member of Parliament Amresh Kumar Singh has questioned the independence and impartiality of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), stating that no state body has the right to interfere with the constitutional anti-corruption body.
Speaking at a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee held at Singha Durbar on Thursday, Singh said the CIAA is an independent constitutional body and not a branch under the Prime Minister’s Office, making any state interference unacceptable.
However, he accused the anti-graft body of functioning as a center for protecting middlemen. Referring to CIAA Chief Commissioner Prem Kumar Rai, a former Home Secretary, Singh said Rai has failed to distinguish between the dignity and responsibilities of an administrative position and those of a constitutional position.
Singh said that while civil servants previously approached the CIAA to avoid administrative action, they now approach the commission to secure undue benefits.
He also questioned the need to repeatedly establish new commissions when the Constitution has already granted the CIAA full authority to investigate corruption and illicit assets.
Singh stressed that the CIAA must effectively carry out its responsibility to examine the assets of anyone receiving a salary, allowance or pension from state coffers, including ministers, lawmakers, mayors and administrators.
Other lawmakers attending the meeting also expressed concerns over the overall role and performance of the commission.
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