NHRC 'conscience' in doghouse

ANKIT ADHIKARI
KATHMANDU, SEP 13

A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) official, who sought investigation into alleged irregularities in the organisation, has been transferred to its remote branch office in Khotang.

Prem Bahadur Thapa, legal officer at the NHRC central office, had demanded investigation into “a number of irregularities” in the organisation. NHRC Secretary Bishal Khanal said the action was taken after it was proved through internal investigation Thapa had sent an “unnamed email” containing claims of “unfounded” irregularities in the office. Khanal said he would not have been transferred had he made complaints openly.

The transfer decision has landed into controversy as two incumbent NHRC members have disapproved the decision stating Thapa had good intentions and that he should have been “awarded” instead. This has come at a time when the office is abuzz with allegations and counter-allegations of corruption and irregularities committed by some NHRC members and the secretary.

“All I did was I raise my voice against irregularities and sought an investigation,” Thapa said. “Since my transfer, I have not attended office. I would rather resign than take the transfer.”

NHRC Chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyaya said action was taken against Thapa as he couldn’t prove the allegations that he had made. Upadhyaya said Thapa sent an email to the NHRC office on July 17 charging Secretary Khanal and other officials with corruption in the process of buying materials needed for a child care centre under NHRC. “The unnamed letter that was delivered through e-mail was sent under the fake name Hari Sharma,” he said.

However, NHRC member KB Rokaya said he and another member Leela Pathak had sought investigation into the allegation and not into who sent the letter. “We demanded a probe into the allegations. The chairman then assigned the secretary to investigate into the unnamed letter. But, the secretary focused not on allegations but on finding out who sent the letter and when he found out that it was Thapa, he transferred him,” said Rokaya.

“We called a meeting of all five NHRC members and Thapa admitted that he had sent the letter,” said Upadhyaya. “When he was asked if he could prove the allegations he made, he said he couldn’t.” Rokaya and Pathak said they do not concur with the decision to transfer Thapa.

Thapa admits that he raised the issue of corruption, but said he was not behind the unnamed letter.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- September 14