Amresh Kumar Singh Says CIAA Should Not Be Treated as a Branch of the Prime Minister’s Office

Dragon Media Correspondent

Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Amresh Kumar Singh has urged the prime minister and ministers to respect the independence and dignity of constitutional commissions.

Speaking at a meeting of the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House of Representatives at Singha Durbar on Thursday, Singh said constitutional bodies, including the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, should not be treated as offices subordinate to the executive.

“Is the CIAA a constitutional commission or a branch of the Prime Minister’s Office?” Singh asked. “Let the CIAA function as the CIAA. Constitutional bodies should be allowed to operate with the status and authority granted to them by the Constitution.”

Referring to an earlier incident in which CIAA officials were called to the Prime Minister’s Office, Singh argued that constitutional bodies should not be subjected to undue pressure from the executive.

He also advised officials of constitutional commissions not to appear merely because they are summoned by the prime minister or a minister.

“My suggestion to the officials is that if the prime minister or any minister calls you, do not go,” Singh said.

Singh maintained that parliamentary committees, within their constitutional and parliamentary mandate, may summon officials of constitutional bodies, seek explanations and issue necessary instructions. The executive, however, should not exercise control over constitutionally independent institutions, he said.

He added that preserving the independence and impartiality of the CIAA was important not only for combating corruption but also for maintaining the constitutional balance of power.