Kathmandu, October 18
The Supreme Court has concluded that elected representatives at the local level are not authorised to receive a regular payment from their governments. The apex court says it is unconstitutional and has to be stopped.
The constitutional bench comprising Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana, Deepak Kumar Karki, Kedar Prasad Chalise, Mira Khadka and Hari Krishna Karki issued the verdict today. The order will affect around 30,000 local leaders including mayors, deputy mayors, ward chairs and ward committee members.
The court says articles 220.8 and 227 of the constitution do not allow the local elected officials to receive the payment. Article 220.8 states, “Provisions relating to the conduct of the District Assembly, facilities of Members of the District Coordination Committee and other matters relating to the District Assembly shall be as provided for in the state law.” Likewise, Article 227 says, “Other matters relating to the conduct of business of a Village Assembly and Municipal Assembly, rules of procedures of meetings, formation of committees, conditions in which the office of member falls vacant, facilities receivable by members of the Village Assembly and Municipal Assembly and employees and officers of the Village Body and Municipality shall be as provided for in the State law.”
Six provincial governments except that of Province 1 had already implemented their own laws to provide payments and benefits to the local elected officials.
