Kathmandu, May 22
Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada says the government’s decision to place the Department of Revenue Investigation under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Prime Minister has paid off.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Khatiwada said that after the department was placed under the aegis of the Prime Minister’s Office, many government employees and businessmen responsible for revenue loss have been punished.
“We have seen positive results in the past year. Many government employees who were involved in financial irregularities have been punished as per the law,” he said.
Minister Khatiwada last year had asked the Department of Revenue Investigation be separated from the Inland Revenue Department and be put under the Office of the Prime Minister.
“The department that collects revenue cannot be investigating and punishing people. There will surely be a conflict of interest,” added Khatiwada.
Minister Khatiwada said that his ministry had proposed a bill which would regulate the revenue department and stop irregularities happening during revenue collection at the local and provincial level.
