Supreme Court Orders Action Against Those Disrupting Microfinance Operations

Kathmandu. The Supreme Court has issued a mandamus order in the name of the government to immediately arrest individuals or groups obstructing the work of microfinance financial institutions, physically attacking employees, and causing damage to property, and to take action against them according to criminal law.

The joint bench of Justices Hari Prasad Fuyaal and Bal Krishna Dhakal, in the full text of the verdict issued on Poush 6, has directed the state bodies to be active in stopping the anarchic and illegal activities happening in the microfinance sector.

In the writ petition filed by advocates Subash Pathak, Dipesh Dhakal, and Sadin Karki, it was mentioned that a group called 'Microfinance Against Struggle Committee' was illegally locking microfinance institutions across the country, threatening employees, assaulting them, and inciting them not to repay loans. It was claimed that such actions violated citizens' constitutional right to pursue a profession and business, and posed a risk to the financial system itself.

The Supreme Court, in its order, stated that physical attacks on microfinance employees and vandalism of office property should not be treated as mere ordinary disputes.

The court's order states: