Property Investigation Commission: Over 25,000 Officials Expected to Submit Asset Declarations, Complaints Start to Arrive
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An official from the Property Investigation Commission has estimated that more than 25,000 current and retired officials, as well as political officeholders, will be required to submit their asset declarations. The commission has already begun requesting data from various agencies.
At the start of Baishakh, Prime Minister Balendra Shah ‘Balen”s cabinet tasked the commission, chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari, with issuing a notification for asset disclosure within 30 days.
The commission is mandated to collect, investigate, and report on assets belonging to all political officeholders, employees, and their family members, both domestic and abroad, who have held public office from Fiscal Year 2062/63 to the end of Chaitra 2082/83.
Upon inviting complaints last week concerning ‘illegitimate asset accumulation’ against political officeholders or employees within its jurisdiction, the commission has already begun receiving some complaints, its spokesman reported.
In the initial phase, around 13,300 serving employees at the federal and provincial levels are expected to undergo investigation, according to the Director General of the National Archives.
Records indicate that at least 3,000 civil servants, police personnel, and judiciary officials currently receiving pensions will also have to complete asset declaration forms, likely numbering in the thousands.
Response from the Property Investigation Commission
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Entrusted with the responsibility to investigate assets of prime ministers from the time of the former monarchy to the current Nepali government, as well as ministers, members of parliament, judges, and senior security and diplomatic officials, the commission issued a notification last week directing submission of asset declarations within 30 days as instructed by its mandate.
According to the notification, any officer or employee who has served or retired between 2048 BS and 2062/63 BS, or at any point afterward, must submit their asset details at least once.
Ganesh KC, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police and spokesperson for the commission, stated, “We preliminarily estimate that more than 25,000 officials will need to fill out the asset declaration forms. Complaints have also started arriving, with an expected range of 8,000 to 10,000 complaints.”
KC added that correspondence has been sent to various agencies to compile lists and quantity details, and a request for members of parliament’s names has been submitted to the federal legislature.
Officials confirmed that similar communications are also underway with other provinces and agencies.
The commission has been authorized to investigate assets of first-class gazetted civil servants and second-class gazetted officers holding head of office positions.
Civil Servants and Police Officers Subject to Investigation
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Shravan Kumar Pokharel, Director General of the National Archives, indicated that approximately 13,324 active employees at the federal and provincial levels will be within the scope of the first phase investigations.
He explained, “From specialized officers to Deputy Secretary-level employees, the asset verification process will be facilitated so that employees do not have to physically visit their department to obtain salary and income details. We have arranged to collect details via WhatsApp and email.”
This digital facility will be available for one month, and those who avail of it will not need to visit the National Archives.
Data on senior retired officers receiving pensions since Fiscal Year 2062/63 also suggests potential numbers within the commission’s scope.
According to the Pension Management Office under the Office of the Auditor General, there are currently 365 pensioners in the specialized secretary category. Additionally, there is one Additional Secretary, 15 Chief Secretaries, and 1,771 Undersecretaries receiving pensions.
Fifteen heads of constitutional bodies and seven officials including the Secretary General and Secretaries at the Parliament Secretariat also receive pensions.
Regarding the judiciary, there are 52 retired judges, including former Supreme Court justices and Chief Justices.
Similarly, the courts include 48 Chief Justices of High, Appellate, and Regional Courts and 173 retired judges.
Among retired officials in the Armed Police Force, there are 86 Senior Deputy Inspectors, 48 Deputy Inspectors General, 19 Additional Inspectors General, and 8 Inspectors General.
Within the Nepal Police, there are 152 Senior Deputy Inspectors, 118 Deputy Inspectors General, 102 Additional Inspectors General, and 15 Inspectors General.
“These figures represent retired and pensioned employees only; family members receiving pensions are not included,” explained Navaraj Nepal, head of the Pension Management Office.
What Needs to Be Filled in the Commission’s Form?
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The commission has been given a one-year timeline. In the first phase, it is tasked with collecting, verifying, and investigating asset details of officials holding office from Fiscal Year 2062/63 to the end of Chaitra 2082/83. The second phase will cover asset investigations for senior officials from 2048 BS to Fiscal Year 2061/62.
The investigation scope includes the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker, Chairperson of the National Assembly, provincial Chief Ministers, heads of constitutional bodies, appointed advisors, and private secretaries according to their social status.
“Political appointments made over various periods are also estimated to number between 3,000 and 4,000. The total number of political officeholders may exceed 5,000,” the commission stated.
According to the notice published in the gazette, if complaints are filed regarding active military officers, judges, or other officials outside its jurisdiction, the commission may forward those cases to the appropriate authorities for investigation.
Asset declaration forms are available on the commission’s website and require declaration of inherited and acquired assets during the official’s tenure, including clear details of sources.
The form requests information on salary, allowances, foreign travels, land and property holdings, stock market activity, loans from financial institutions, agriculture, animal husbandry, business, trade, remittances, income, and expenditures. All submissions must be accompanied by supporting verification documents.
KC emphasized, “Filling this form is mandatory and represents a chance for individuals to lawfully declare their assets. Confirming the absence of illegal assets is a citizen’s responsibility. This certificate also serves as proof of working responsibly.”
The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers’ office is overseeing the commission’s manpower, and initially, 38 personnel have been designated to support its operations.
Currently, the commission operates from Kesar Mahal in Kathmandu and is seeking additional staff to bolster its capacity.