Supreme Court Issues 'Show Cause' Order Against Government Decision to Appoint Private Secretaries for Federal Parliament Members

Kathmandu. The Supreme Court has issued a 'show cause' order against the government's decision to allow federal parliament members to appoint private secretaries (PAs). A single bench of Justice Binod Sharma has issued the order seeking a written response from the government regarding the decision. The Supreme Court will further debate and decide on this matter after receiving the government's written response.

The writ, filed by advocate Dr. Premraj Silwal, claims that the government's decision will lead to extreme misuse of the state treasury and is contrary to the spirit of the constitution. The writ had demanded that the government's decision and the related gazette notification be quashed by an order of certiorari.

The writ states that it is 'deceitful and arbitrary' for the government to aim to save 20 billion rupees by adopting austerity on one hand and to arrange for private secretaries to patronize its cadres on the other. The government had recently amended the schedule using Section 25 of the 'Federal Parliament Office Bearers and Members' Salary and Facilities Act, 2073' to provide the facility of private secretaries to the parliament members.

The writ petition argues that there is no clear provision for the qualifications, capabilities, or examination of the parliament members' private assistants, and their work, duties, and rights are not defined by law.

Citing examples of past instances where private assistants were implicated in serious crimes such as illegal businesses, red passport scandals, Bhutanese refugee cases, and gold smuggling, the writ states that such arrangements will encourage corruption.

Furthermore, the writ recalls past malpractices where parliament members appointed their relatives or business partners, and in some cases, drew their own salaries without making any appointments.