Sexual harassment complaint against proposed Election Commissioner, parliamentary hearing today

The June 2 meeting of the Constitutional Council unanimously decided to recommend Pradhan for the vacant post of Election Commissioner. Soon after, a letter was sent to the Parliamentary Hearings Committee. On June 7, the hearing committee started the hearing against the chief and called for a complaint. Complaints and notices were opened on June 18 and distributed to MPs and discussed.

At this time, it was found that a woman complained that she was sexually exploited and abused while working in the Nepal Law Society. Along with the handwritten complaint regarding sexual exploitation, she has also submitted proofs of settlement and money transactions in the court. After the victim himself came to the committee and gave a statement about the incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse, the parliamentary committee postponed the hearing scheduled to be held with Pradhan on June 21. The committee is going to interrogate the chief on Wednesday regarding serious allegations like sexual abuse and get information about the action plan.

Mahesh Bertaula, the chief whip of the ruling party and a member of the parliamentary hearing committee, said that a decision will be taken after the proposed person presents an action plan and gives an explanation about the complaint. He said that nothing can be said based on the complaint as the parliamentary hearing process is ongoing. "The Constitutional Council has done its work, now the parliamentary hearing committee is capable of making a decision," said Bertaula, "all the committees of the parliament are capable of doing their work." All the top leaders including the Prime Minister are clear that the parliamentary body should be effective. The dignity of the Parliament should be preserved, decisions should be made in a way that preserves the parliamentary value and recognition.

Parliamentary Hearing Committee Member and Congress Co-General Minister Jeevan Pariyar mentioned that the complainant has been heard and said that a decision will be reached after clarification with the proposed person. We have heard from the complainant regarding the complaint against the person proposed to the Election Commissioner. Now we have to question him (Pradhan), what will be the answer, then a decision will be made," he said.

An MP of the Parliamentary Committee said that the proposed person did not have the 'high moral character' required for the election commissioner. "We listened to the complaint of the woman, after listening to it, the person recommended to the Election Commissioner did not have a high moral character. The parliamentary committee will take a decision after listening to the opinion of the proposed person on this matter,' she said, 'This matter is to be resolved by everyone's agreement, it becomes the common opinion of the ruling party.'

The members of the hearing committee say that there is no information from the top leaders of the party about whether to approve Pradhan or not. The MPs of the ruling party have said that they are ready to consult with the top leaders after listening to the Prime Minister.

When Pradhan was recommended as the Election Commissioner, the then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was the Chairman of the Constitutional Council. The members included Chief Justice Vishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire, National Assembly Speaker Narayan Prasad Dahal, Congress Speaker Sher Bahadur Deuba and Deputy Speaker Indira Rana as the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives. The Council unanimously recommended the Pradhan. According to a member of the council, after a discussion between Dahal and Deuba, Pradhan's name was presented in the council meeting.

Article 245 (6) of the Constitution specifies the qualifications for appointment to the post of Chief Election Commissioner or Election Commissioner. In which it is mentioned that they must have graduated, not be a member of any political party at the time of appointment, must have completed 45 years of age and have high moral character.

In the hearing committee, the victim said that she has to manage her life. According to an MP, the woman said that Pradhan had given her Rs. Recently, the victim said that Pradhan tried to stay away from her, because of the relationship with him, the marriage broke down, and she did not give birth to a child.

The female victim mentioned that Pradhan sexually abused and abused her from 2019 to 2022. "Krishnaman Pradhan sexually abused me every week by calling me after 5 or 5:30 pm or on Saturdays from his office at the Nepal Law Society," the victim's complaint states, "I was tempted to give me a job in an INGO by doing a lot of 'brainwashing'."

It is mentioned in the victim's complaint that he was prevented from going to the police for a year when he tried to file a complaint about the sexual abuse against him. According to the victim, the mobile software and evidence were destroyed by using the office staff of the law society. I was held captive in his office by his staff for 4 hours. And they tried to make me a honey trap case and send me to jail," the victim said in the parliamentary committee, "I humbly request that the said person not be appointed to the position of commissioner in terms of ethics." Another complaint that he sexually abused victims working in the society's office has also been submitted to the hearing committee. The victim filed a complaint in District Court Kathmandu on August 24, 2080, saying that Pradhan sexually abused her. A week after that, the court made the final decision on settlement. Judge Keshav Prasad Adhikari ordered the settlement on August 29, 2080.

According to the agreement of the district court, it is mentioned that the victim worked in the law society for 4 months. It is mentioned that after he stopped working in that office, Pradhan called him to hotels and restaurants and sexually abused him by giving him a job.

In another complaint against Pradhan in the parliamentary hearing committee, it is mentioned that money was given three times to settle the incident. On behalf of Pradhan, the photo of the check cut in the name of the victim has also been submitted to the parliamentary committee. It is also mentioned in the complaint that relatives helped Pradhan during that time.