Major Nepali and English broadsheets published from Kathmandu on Friday have highlighted a range of issues from politics to economy and social life. However, as always, politics has received the topmost attention. President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday suggested that the Election Commission seek political consensus from major parties or use the constitutional provision to remove constitutional hurdles to declare final results of the House of Representatives elections and this has been significantly covered in almost all newspapers today. Likewise, reports about the all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba have also received equal attention.
Important
President wants Commission to declare results ASAP
President Bidya Devi Bhandari has told the election commissioners that it will be appropriate to announce final results of House of Representatives at the earliest so that the new government can be formed in recognition of fresh people’s mandate, reports Gorkhapatra.
During a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav and election commissioners Narendra Dahal, Ishwari Prasad Paudyal and Sudheer Kumar Shah at the Sheetal Niwas, the President also claimed that the spirit of the constitution would be no obstacle to declaring the results, according to The Kathmandu Post.
The commissioners, however, pointed to constitutional and legal hurdles to presenting the results to the President, according to the report.
During the meeting, the President has asked commissioners about the procedures to appoint province chiefs and commencement of provincial assembly meetings, Commissioner Dahal told Rajdhani.
Meanwhile, Naya Patrika lead story says the National Assembly polls can be conducted within next 20 days, but the government and the Commission are deliberately delaying the process.
Chief judge recommendation dragged into controversy
Whereas all major newspapers have given a significant attention to the recommendation for appointment of four high court chief judges, Annapurna Post lead story informs that the decision has been dragged into a controversy after a member of the Judicial Council, seniormost Supreme Court Justice Deepak Raj Joshi, wrote his note of dissent on the decision. Joshi has expressed his dissent over the order of seniority determined during the decision placing outgoing Supreme Court Registrar General Nahakul Subedi on the top.
Joshi says Subedi is junior than other three people recommended for the position below him. Likewise, he is not satisfied with the decision to exclude Sushma Lata Mathema from the race, who was also one among senior-most high court judges, according to the report.
Seven Nepali girls rescued from Kenya
Quoting Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, The Himalayan Times and The Kathmandu Post have reported that a joint mission of Indian High Commission in Nairobi and Kenya Police rescued seven Nepali and three Indian girls who were held captive in Mombasa of the African country.
Meanwhile, The Kathmandu Post says Nepali officials in Kathmandu are also closely following the matter in coordination with Nepali diplomats in South Africa. On the other hand, Nepal’s Ambassador to South Africa Amrit Bahadur Rai, who also looks after Kenya, tells The Himalayan Times over phone that the rescued girls were from Nuwakot, Nawalparasi, Sindhupalchok, Makawanpur, Tanahun and Surkhet districts.
Ignored
Nepali Army General accused of banking offence
A Nepali Army Lieutenant General has been accused of a banking offence and the national military organisation has launched a probe into the charge, reports Rajdhani. Dr Ramesh Bista, currently deployed at the Chhauni-based Birendra Hospital, has been accused of embezzling Rs 49.1 million, the report informs, quoting Nepali Army spokesperson Gokul Bhandari. He also informs that the Army will take action against him as per the law after conclusion of the crime.
Earlier, his involvement was suspected after Rs 3.2 million was found in his account.
New contractor appointed for Dhalkebar substation
After cancelling the contract with Central China Power Grid, the Nepal Electricity Authority has appointed the new contractor to construct a substation in Dhalkebar of Dhanusha district, reports Abhiyan in its lead story for the day. An Indian company has been awarded the contract worth Rs 130 million, the report informs, adding the Authority will sign a contract with the company after a couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that the remaining construction works of the project will be complete within next four months.
Interesting
Nepal to establish seven new immigration offices
Nepal is planning to establish new immigration offices at seven crossings bordering with India, reports Karobar.
The places which will soon have immigration offices include Pashupatinagar of Ilam, Rani of Morang, Thori of Parsa, Jatahi of Dhanusha, Bhittamod of Mahottari, Gaur of Rautahat and Malangawa of Salrahi.
So far, Nepal has immigration offices at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kakadbhitta of Jhapa, Birgunj of Parsa, Belhaiya of Rupandehi, Nepalgunj of Banke, Dhangadhi of Kailali, Mahendranagar of Kanchanpur and Rasuwagadhi of Rasuwa.
Immigration officials say they decided to establish new offices after India established similar offices across Pashupatinagar and Rani without any consultation.
