Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Tuesday have given the top priority to various decisions made by the Cabinet meeting yesterday. Among the decisions, the most significant ones are the recommendations of two names for Nepali Ambassadors to India and United Arab Emirates. Former Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety’s recommendation for Nepali Ambassador to India has been dragged into controversy as the constitution says former officials of constitutional commissions are not eligible for any government position.
Likewise, the meeting also formed a team to hold talks with medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC as he has been staging a fast-unto-death at the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences in Jumla.
Few other issues from political, sociocultural and financial spheres have also been featured on the front pages of major newspapers today.
Important
Uprety’s recommendation sparks controversy
Legal experts are seen divided over the recommendation of former Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety as the constitution bars former poll commissioners from joining government services, according to reports in Rajdhani, Nepal Samacharpatra and The Himalayan Times.
Some argue that the recommendation is not unconstitutional as an ambassador is not a government position, but a political one, whereas others view that it is a government position.
Meanwhile, the government endorsed a new policy document on appointment of ambassadors stipulating criteria for them, according to which the diplomatic representatives of the country shall also take oath of office and secrecy from the Prime Minister before taking the assignment, according to Republica.
Govt team to hold talks with Dr KC
On the 17th day of indefinite hunger strike of medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC, the government on Monday formed a team to hold talks with him, according to newspaper reports.
The three-member team is headed by Education Secretary Khaga Raj Adhikari and consists of one joint secretary from the Ministry of Health and Population and the Ministry of Home Affairs each as members.
The team held the first round of talks with Dr KC’s representatives on Monday itself, but it ended without reaching any conclusion, according to Naya Patrika. Annapurna Post says the two sides will resume the talks today.
On the other hand, Dr KC has appealed to doctors to provide needful support to him as he is undergoing severe respiratory problems, Republica reports.
Meanwhile, the umbrella organisation of Nepali medical doctors, Nepal Medical Association, on Monday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government demanding it take concrete initiatives to save the life of fasting sexagenarian.
Stay order against protest ban continues
Kantipur, Rajdhani, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times among other daily newspapers report that the Supreme Court has given the continuity to a stay order it had earlier issued against the government decision to bar demonstrators from Maitighar Mandala of Kathmandu.
The court has remarked that this decision has been linked to the restriction on activities related to freedom of citizens; therefore it has to be taken to the trial, according to Kantipur lead story. The order issued by a division bench of justices Om Prakash Mishra and Kedar Prasad Chalise says the decision will not be implemented till the final verdict on the case.
Earlier, Senior Advocate Dinesh Tripathi had filed a writ against the decision, stating that the government’s decision banning protest at Maitighar Mandala violates citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, according to The Himalayan Times.
Rs 33 billion spent on single day
Nagarik, Abhiyan and Republica report that the government released Rs 33 billion budget on a single day, on Sunday, as it was in rush to spend as much as possible budget allocated for the fiscal year as the year ended on Monday. Laws bar the government to release the budget on the last day.
Nagarik lead story informs that this is the highest amount of money released on the single day in Nepal’s financial history. It also comments that a big section of the budget released at the end of the year is embezzled most of the times.
Ignored
Various district offices dissolved
As a step ahead towards implementation of new federal governance structures, various government offices being operated at the district level are dissolved today as their rights and responsibilities have been delegated to the local level, according to Naya Patrika. Total 18 types of offices have been dissolved from today.
Report shows most candidates crossed EC expense limit in elections
A study conducted by the Election Observation Committee Nepal, a leading domestic poll observation group, has shown that the government, political parties and candidates spent an estimated Rs 131.63 billion in total during the three tiers of elections held last year, reports The Kathmandu Post in a three-column story.
The study report also mentions that most poll candidates crossed the expense limit set by the Commission.
Meanwhile, the Commission has been seen reluctant to make its expenses public though it has a constitutional duty to make parties accountable to the public, according to the anchor story of Rajdhani.
Interesting
Voter registration campaign begins
The Election Commission has appealed to members of the public who are eligible to vote but not yet registered with the Commission to register their names on the voter list, Gorkhapatra reports in a snippet. The new voter registration campaign has begun in all 77 districts in the country from today, according to the report.
