HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the government and the Parliament asking for a written reply within 15 days on a petition filed against the perks provided to former prime ministers and home ministers.
The single bench of Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha issued the notice and asked the court administration to give it priority. SC’s ruling came after the preliminary hearing held today on the petition filed by advocate Ram Chandra Paudel.
Paudel had filed the petition on Friday demanding a ruling against the government decision to provide perks such as vehicles, drivers and maintenance expenses to former ministers. The petitioner argues that the government’s decision has given rise to leaders buying expensive vehicles and other amenities at the tax payers’ expense, use them while in power and retain them even after they resign. “Such decisions lead to bankruptcy,” warned the writ.
The petition states that the government took the decision arbitrarily although there were no such legal provisions.
The apex court, therefore, should intervene and scrap the cabinet decision, the petition adds.
Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government, on 6 December 2004, had decided to provide such perks to former PMs and home ministers.
The petitioner said the government was spending millions for former ministers and it was against the people’s right to equality. The petitioner pointed out that former home minister Bhim Rawal was using a vehicle worth Rs 10 million even after he left office.
Meanwhile, a Home Ministry source revealed that the government was providing a vehicle, 200 litres of petrol per month, a driver and maintenance expenses to each former PM and home minister. In addition, the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government had decided to provide house rent, electricity, water and telephone expenses to former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Former PMs Surya Bahadur Thapa, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and former home ministers Bam Dev Gautam, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Ram Chandra Paudel are also
enjoying government vehicles and other facilities. Even Girija Prasad Koirala enjoyed the perks while he was PM.
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