KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interim order not to stop the social security allowance for the senior citizens of Duduwa rural municipality of Dang and to provide it immediately.

Hearing on the writ petitions filed by senior citizens including Kunna Bhujuwa of Duduwa, a single bench of Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha ordered on Sunday not to deprive the senior citizens of the social security allowance formerly provided to them.

The writ petitioners had demanded to make the allowance distribution easy and convenience to the senior citizens. They demanded the government to arrange for the home-delivery of the allowance in case the citizens entitled to the allowance are unable to visit the designated places due to their age, illness or geographical inconvenience.

Hearing on the writ, SC ordered the government to ensure that all senior citizens receive the allowance in convenient way at their convenient places.

The local senior citizens of Duduwa village municipality had filed a writ petition against the Prime Minister and the Office of the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Registration Department and Fund Accounts Control Office, Nepalgunj.

“It is up to the government to ensure that the citizens get the allowance they are entitled to despite their  disability, inability to walk or inaccessibility to bank or bank services,” the SC order said, “It’s government’s duty to ensure the implementation of the facility provided by the government.”

Senior Advocate Gopal Krishna Ghimire and Advocate Suresh Kumar Poudel argued on behalf of the senior citizens of Duduwa on the issue of public concern.

After the court order, the local levels having no banks are expected to regard this verdict as precedent and provide allowance to the disabled and senior citizens at their doors.