The Supreme Court of Nepal has ordered an original copy of the decision authorizing residential facilities to province chiefs and chief ministers in the Kathmandu Valley.
A bench of Justices Binod Sharma and Nripa Dhwaj Niraula ordered a copy of the decision file taken by the cabinet meeting on December 3, 2018.
The hearing of this writ petition has been scheduled for May 13, 2025.
Following a preliminary hearing on the writ filed by advocate Chandra Prasad Bhusal, a single bench of Justice Til Prasad Shrestha on March 27 had issued an order directing the government to justify its decision to provide residential facilities to province chiefs and chief ministers of seven provinces at Bainsepati in Lalitpur.
To provide residential facilities to chiefs and chief ministers at Bainsepati in Lalitpur while they are enjoying the facilities in their respective provinces contravenes the existing rules which clearly denies dual facilities those holding public office, reads the petition.
Province chiefs, chief ministers, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers have been made defendants in the writ.
Section 3 (1) of the Salaries and Other Benefits of the Province Chief Act, 2074 states that the Nepal government will build a residential office in the respective capital of the Province.
This provision clearly states that the Nepal government arranges an official residence in the respective capital and bars a dual facility in the federal capital, reads the writ petition.
Luxurious residential buildings have been constructed for province chiefs and chief ministers of all seven provinces in an area of 27 ropanis and 12 anas land in Lalitpur Metropolitan City-18 and 25, Bhainsepati. The complex has seven posh buildings and 14 blocks constructed at the cost of NPR 850 million.
A cabinet meeting held on March 29, 2016 had decided to bar individuals holding public posts from receiving dual facilities.
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