Joint bench of justices Shrestha and Pandey to hear contempt case over budget

KATHMANDU: A contempt of court petition has been registered at the Supreme Court of Nepal over a provision in the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26 budget, with a hearing scheduled before the joint bench of Justices Til Prasad Shrestha and Nityananda Pandey.

Senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi filed the petition on Sunday, claiming that clause 87 of the new budget disrespects and defies a previous Supreme Court order. The petition demands maximum punishment for those involved in the alleged contempt.

The petition names Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, Industry Minister Damodar Bhandari, and Forest Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri as defendants.

It seeks their dismissal from office and disqualification from holding any future public position.

The controversy centers around a budget provision introduced by Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, which aims to involve the private sector in the commercial production and marketing of natural and mineral resources.

Tripathi argues that this provision contradicts a prior Supreme Court ruling.

In fiscal year 2021/22, clause 199 of the budget had proposed the export of mined materials such as stone, gravel, and sand.

The Supreme Court had issued a mandamus order instructing the government not to implement that clause. The new provision is alleged to be in violation of that ruling.