Details of Ministers' Assets Made Public: Land Holdings Revealed

Kathmandu. On Sunday, the asset details of the Prime Minister and ministers were made public. According to the details released by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, it has been observed that Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) and the ministers hold significant land across the Terai, hills, and the Kathmandu Valley.

How much land does each minister hold?

According to the details released by the office, Home Minister Sudhan Gurung holds the most land, while Law Minister Sobita Gautam holds the least. In terms of value, Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel's land appears to be the most significant.

The ministers' land holdings are as follows:

1. Balendra Shah (Prime Minister): A total of 10.2 bighas and 5 aana, including 9 bighas in Mahottari, 5 aana in Kathmandu (occupied by the house), and 1.2 bighas in Dhanusha (occupied by the house).

2. Dr. Swarnim Wagle (Finance Minister): 3 ropanis in Chandragiri, Kathmandu; 8 ropanis in Gorkha (including Shahid Lakhan and Gorkha Municipality); 5 katthas in Chitwan; 6 ropanis in Tanahun; 1284 square meters (approx. 40 aana) in Sanepa, Lalitpur; 3 aana in Bhaisepati, Lalitpur; 9 aana in Dhulikhel; and 3 aana in Bandipur.

3. Shishir Khanal (Foreign Minister): 15 ropanis in Tanahun, 12 ropanis in East Nawalpur, 2 katthas in Nepalgunj, and 6 aana in Tokha, Kathmandu.

4. Sudhan Gurung (Home Minister): A total of 240 ropanis, 15 aana, and 30 katthas, including 19 ropanis 15 aana in Dhankuta, 30 katthas in Chitwan, and 221 ropanis in Gorkha (in the grandfather's name).

5. Biraj Bhakta Shrestha (Energy Minister): A total of 6 aana and a house in two locations in Kathmandu.

6. Sunil Lamsal (Physical and Urban Development Minister): 10 katthas 15 dhurs in Kawasoti, Nawalparasi, and 29 ropanis in Syangja.

7. Sobita Gautam (Law Minister): 677.26 square meters in Bharatpur Metropolitan City. The area of land in Kathmandu was not mentioned.

8. Sita Badi (Minister for Women): A total of 6440.30 square meters (approx. 12.66 ropanis) in various locations in Surkhet.

9. Pratibha Rawal (Land and Federal Affairs Minister): 5 aana in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, and 17 dhurs in Kolhabi, Bara.

10. Nisha Mehta (Health Minister): 7 aana in Saukhel, Kathmandu, and 8 bighas in Mahottari.

11. Sasmit Pokharel (Education Minister): 13 ropanis 6 aana 3 paisa 2 dam in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, 1 kattha in Morang, and 135.14 square meters in Gokarneshwor, Kathmandu.

12. Khadak Raj Poudel (Tourism Minister): A total of 5260.67 square meters (approx. 1 ropani) in three plots in Pokhara-14, Kaski.

13. Dr. Bikram Timilsina (Communication Minister): A total of 317.55 square meters (approx. 10 aana) in two locations in Kathmandu.

14. Gita Chaudhary (Agriculture Minister): 4842.50 square meters in Bardiya and 1150 square meters in Rupandehi (total 17.69 katthas).

15. Gauri Kumari Yadav (Industry Minister): 21 aana 2 paisa 1 dam in Kathmandu, and a total of 5 bighas 13 katthas in Mahottari and Nawalparasi.

16. Ramji Yadav (Labor Minister): A total of 1 bigha 1 kattha 3 dhurs in various plots in Rajbiraj, Saptari.

How much land can one hold, and what does the land law say?

Section 7 of the Lands Act, 2021, sets the maximum limit of land that any individual or their family can hold.

According to the Act, one can hold a maximum of 10 bighas in the entire Terai region including the Inner Terai, 25 ropanis in the Kathmandu Valley, and 70 ropanis in all hilly regions outside the Kathmandu Valley.

In addition, one can hold an extra 1 bigha in the Terai, 5 extra ropanis in the Kathmandu Valley, and 5 extra ropanis in the hilly regions as a homestead. Senior Advocate Balkrishna Neupane explains that 'family' here refers to husband, wife, and minor children. However, he states that adult children are allowed to purchase additional land.

'No individual can hold more land than the limit in the name of husband and wife. Here, family also refers to children under 16 years of age,' says Neupane. 'After becoming an adult, children can buy additional land. One cannot hold a lot of land initially and then divide it later.'

Home Minister Gurung may face land ceiling limits

Looking at the current asset details, it appears that Home Minister Sudhan Gurung may be subject to the land ceiling limit. The details mention that 221 ropanis of land are in his grandfather's name in Gorkha. He states that in this situation, that property cannot be transferred to Sudhan's name, and if the government wishes, it can confiscate the land that exceeds the ceiling.

The assets mentioned for other ministers appear to be within the ceiling limits. Senior Advocate Neupane states that even if it is within the limit, the government should investigate whether the mentioned source of such property is correct or not.