Parliamentary Panel Formed to Study Uniform Procurement for Election Police

 

Kathmandu, October 2, 2026-The Public Accounts Committee of the Federal Parliament has formed a nine-member study panel to examine questions surrounding the procurement of uniforms for election police.

A meeting of the committee on Friday decided to form the panel under the coordination of Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Manish Jha. The members include Ain Mahar, Yogesh Gauchan Thakali, Aren Rai, Khagendra Sunar, Khushbu Oli, Ramesh Kumar Malla, Ganesh Dhimal and Mahendra Bahadur Shahi.

The panel has been given two months to complete its study and submit a report to the Public Accounts Committee.

The decision comes after questions were raised over the procurement process. Members of the Public Accounts Committee had differed over whether the matter should first undergo a study or be subjected to a formal investigation.

During Friday’s meeting, lawmaker Khagendra Sunar questioned the committee’s response to concerns raised about the procurement process. He said documents related to the purchase had been requested but members had not been informed whether the documents had been received.

Lawmaker Khushbu Oli argued that the committee should first examine the available facts, documents and reports before drawing any conclusions. She said decisions should not be based solely on information circulating on social media or on claims that had not been independently verified.

Oli also called for the committee to review the views presented by the inspector generals of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, as well as reports submitted by the concerned agencies.

UML lawmaker Ain Mahar supported the formation of the study panel, saying the questions raised about the procurement process needed to be addressed. He argued that leaving such concerns unresolved could affect public confidence in the police institution and the morale of its personnel.

Mahar had proposed forming an “investigation and study” panel rather than immediately establishing a formal investigation committee. Following discussions among the lawmakers, the committee agreed to proceed with a study panel led by Manish Jha.

The panel will examine relevant documents, facts and submissions from concerned agencies before submitting its findings to the Public Accounts Committee, which will then decide on any further action.