Kathmandu, June 28
The Supreme Court has issued a show-cause notice to the cabinet and the Finance Ministry responding to a petition challenging the government’s decision to dole out Rs 60 million to eac lawmaker under the Constituency Development Programme.
A bench of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana and Justices Deepak Kumar Karki, Kedar Prasad Chalise, Meera Khadka and Hari Krishna Karki on Friday asked the PMO, Finance Ministry, Parliament Secretariat, House of Representatives and National Assembly why it planned to provide the funds to the MPs, within seven days.
Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada in his budget speech said that each lawmaker will be provided Rs 60 million under the Constituency Development Fund. Advocate Paras Mani Bhattarai had filed a writ saying that it was against the constitution to give away money to lawmakers. Bhattarai, along with other lawyers, discussed the writ with the constitutional bench on Friday.
