Kathmandu, October 5
Owners of various shops of branded luxury items in Durbarmarg area of Kathmandu, whose shops were sealed last week for overcharging customers, are unlikely to face action for their offence thanks to dillydallying on the part of government authorities.
Exactly one month ago, a monitoring team led by Minister for Supplies Shiva Kumar Mandal had sealed the shops; however, no action has been taken against them after that.
Officials involved in the probe cite legal complications, lack of cooperation from the Ministry of Finance and delay in recording statements of the accused as reasons behind the failure to take action till the date.
“Finally, we have completed recording the statements,” Director General of Department of Supply Management and Protection of Consumers Interests, Kumar Prasad Dahal, says, “Now, the investigation begins on Friday.”
Meanwhile, the sealed shops have already resumed their business after the Department unsealed them after recording the statements.
The monitoring had found that the shops were earning profits from 900 to 2,300 per cent. Nepal’s marketing law allows traders to earn 20 per cent profit at the maximum.
Consumer rights activists have expressed concerns over the delay and worried if the traders get spared.
