Voting mandatory for civil servants KIRAN CHAPAGAIN KATHMANDU, Feb 2 - Chief Secretary Lok Man Singh Karki, has ordered all government secretaries to ensure that all government employees cast their votes in the upcoming municipal polls. Karki issued a "verbal circular" at a meeting of secretaries at Singha Durbar Wednesday, a source at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers said. "Karki warned that those government employees who do not exercise their franchise will be subject to punishment," the source said seeking anonymity. Karki, the source said, however, did not tell the meeting about the kind of punishment. Karki also informed secretaries that the government would monitor whether or not civil servants took part in the polls. Sources said this is the first time voting has been made strictly compulsory for government employees. "This might be due to fear of low turn out in the upcoming elections," said another source preferring to remain unnamed.