SC issues show cause notice on parliamentary development fund

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause order to the government, questioning the necessity of the Parliamentary Infrastructure Development Fund.

Hearing a writ petition filed by Advocates Sagar Baral and Saugat Raj Baral, along with law student Avinesh Adhikari, a single bench of Justice Hari Prasad Phiyal issued the order on Thursday.

The petitioners moved the apex court after the government allocated Rs 50 million to each electoral constituency under the Parliamentary Infrastructure Development Fund in the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24. They have argued that distributing funds in this manner at a time when the country is passing through a financial crisis is inappropriate and should be halted.

The Supreme Court has summoned the Minister for Finance, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, and other defendants to submit written statements and attend the hearing on August 1.