KATHMANDU: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) parliamentary party leader Gyanendra Shahi has said that not only citizens who violate traffic rules but also the state and responsible authorities for lapses in infrastructure should be brought under legal accountability.
Speaking during the emergency session of the House of Representatives on Sunday, Shahi said there has been growing discussion on imposing strict penalties on citizens for traffic violations, and argued that similar accountability should apply to those responsible for road infrastructure and public services.
He said that if citizens can be fined up to Rs 100,000 for violating traffic rules, the state should also be held accountable when public infrastructure fails.
Proposing a set of measures, Shahi suggested that the state should be fined Rs 100,000 if potholes are found on roads, Rs 50,000 if traffic lights remain unrepaired, Rs 50,000 if traffic police behave rudely toward citizens, and penalties if streetlights remain non-functional at night.
He urged the Law Minister to consider introducing legislation ensuring accountability on both sides—citizens and the state alike.
Shahi added that laws should be formulated through cooperation between the government and the public, and expressed readiness to support legislation that ensures the state is also held responsible for service delivery failures.
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