Newspapers published in Kathmandu on Monday have published reports related to a variety of social, political economic issues. The parliamentary hearing on Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana has received considerable attention along with allegations of corruption in the wide-body aircraft purchase deal. Here’s a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages on Monday:
Important
CJ hearing: Rana faces a lot of questions
Annapurna, Naya Patrika, Nagarik and Kantipur report that the Parliamentary Hearing Committee threw a barrage of questing at Chief Justice nominee Cholendra Shumsher Rana. Their questions revolved around the role of middlemen who corrupted the justice system. Rana was questioned by 10 lawmakers. Nepal Communist Party lawmaker Shiv Kumar Mandal sought Rana’s response on the accusation that he blackmailed former chief justice Surendra Prasad Singh to get appointed as a judge. Rana has jotted down all the questions and will reply on Tuesday.
Hearing postponed after officials refuse to work beyond 4 PM
Naya Patrika, Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times report that the chief justice hearing was postponed until Tuesday because the staffers who were denied overtime pay refused to stay after office hours. Chairman of the committee Laxman Lal Karna wanted to continue the hearing on Monday, but Nepali Congress lawmakers demanded a deferral saying that they were marking Reconciliation Day on the day. Lawmakers are trying to solve this issue.
Widebody corruption
Annapurna, Kantipur and The Himalayan Times report that the Public Accounts Committee has found irregularities in Nepal Airlines Corporation’s deal to purchase two Air Bus 330-220 series wide-body aircraft. The committee has found that the NAC board did not follow the Public Procurement Act and bought planes that did not match the weight specified in the initial request proposal. Their maximum takeoff weight was decreased from 242 tonnes to 230 tonnes in RFP. There is evidence that NAC spent Rs 3.4 billion more on the aircraft.
Ignored
Bill to amend 108 laws sent to cabinet
The Himalayan Times reports the government will register a new bill in Parliament seeking to amend 108 laws that contradict the constitution. The bill which was discussed in a cabinet committee on Friday will have to be endorsed by the Parliament by March 5, 2019. Lawmakers are confident that the all contradictory laws will be repealed by the Parliament. PM Oli has also directed the ministries concerned to draft urgent bills as per the constitutional provision.
CIAA begins probe into TIA cheque bounce case
Karobar reports that the CIAA, has started an investigation regarding the 21 bounced cheques given by Air Asia’s general sales agent Sri Incentive Tours and Travels to the airport authorities. CIAA found out that the authority was handed 21 bounced cheques after it got their hands on the airport’s bank reconciliation statement, which showed a hole of Rs 80.24 million. The CIAA has called past General Managers of the airport to ask for clarification.
Interesting
Parliamentarians use more cars than required
Kantipur reports that lawmakers of the Federal Parliament have been using more cars than they are permitted to. Speaker Krishna Prasad Mahara and Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina have been using four cars each. Likewise, deputy-speaker Shivamaya Tumbahanphe and General Secretary Manohar Prasad Bhattarai have been using two cars each. The law states that the all four are only allowed one car each.
KU welcomes ‘supercomputer’
Nagarik reports that a ‘supercomputer’ has been installed at Kathmandu University. The computer is kept at its IT Park in Kavre. The computer is 1,000 times faster than any normal computer and processes any information fast which will help in research in the field of education and health.
The computer will be used to study earthquake modeling, climate change and the H1N1 virus. This means Nepal will no longer have to seek help from other countries for data processing.
