KATHMANDU: The Janamat Party-led government’s decision to provide Rs 50 million to each lawmaker of Madhes province has been challenged at the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The petition was filed by Manish Kumar Mandal, Paritosh Kumar Sah, and Abid Hussain, naming the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Madhes province as the opposition.

The first meeting of  Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh’s cabinet decided to allocate Rs 50 million to directly elected MPs and Rs 15 million to proportional representation MPs.

The petition argues that the Madhes government’s decision violates the principle of separation of powers and calls for its annulment and the issuance of a mandamus order.

The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

The petition claims that the decision by the Madhes government interferes with the executive powers of the provincial and local governments, as outlined in Articles 162 and 214 of the Constitution.

The petitioners also cited the Supreme Court’s interim order to halt the implementation of the Parliamentary Constituency Infrastructure Development Program in the fiscal year 2080/81, arguing that the Madhes government’s decision contradicts this order.

SC had previously halted the infrastructure development program, stating that allocating funds at the discretion of individual representatives is inconsistent with the principles of planned development and good governance.