Supreme Court Receives Writ Against Government Decision to Appoint Private Secretaries for Federal Parliament Members

Kathmandu. A writ has been filed in the Supreme Court against the Nepal government's decision to allow federal parliament members to appoint private secretaries (PS). The writ, filed by advocate Dr. Premraj Silwal, claims that the government's decision is a gross misuse of state funds and contrary to the spirit of the constitution.

Advocate Silwal has demanded that the government's decision and the notice in the gazette be quashed by an order of certiorari. He has also requested an interim order not to implement the decision until the case is finally decided and for the case to be given precedence.

The writ states that the government's decision to arrange for private secretaries, while simultaneously aiming to save 20 billion rupees through austerity measures, is 'deceptive and arbitrary'.

The government had published a notice in the Nepal Gazette on July 20, 2026, amending the schedule of the 'Act Relating to the Remuneration and Facilities of Office Bearers and Members of the Federal Parliament, 2073' using Section 25, to provide the facility of private secretaries to parliament members.

The writ petition mentions that there is no clear qualification, capability, experience, or examination required for the parliament members' private assistants, and their work, duties, and rights are not defined by law. Citing past examples, the writ states, 'Most private assistants have been implicated in illegal activities such as illegal businesses, extortion, the red passport scandal, the Bhutanese refugee case, and gold smuggling. Reinstating the same system in such a situation is to encourage corruption.'

The writ also recalls the past malpractice where parliament members would appoint their relatives or business partners, and in some cases, would collect the salary themselves without making an appointment.