SC issues show cause to govt over MRP deal

KATHMANDU, Aug 2: Responding to a writ petition, the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday issued a show cause notice to the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) over the government decision to award machine-readable passport (MRP) printing contract to French firm Oberthur Technologies.



The single bench of SC justice Gauri Dhakal ordered the defendants to furnish written clarifications over the deal. The bench has asked the authorities concerned as why an interim order should not be issued against the government decision. [break]



The bench has also ordered the plaintiffs and the defendant to present before the court to discuss whether an stay order should be issued on the MRP deal. A writ petition was filed at the SC after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) decided to award MRP deal to Oberthur.



"Looking into the seriousness of the issue, the bench hereby orders the both the parties to be present at the court on Tuesday for hearing on whether to issue stay," reads the SC order.



Advocate Avadesh Kumar Singh had filed a petition at the apex court last week. Earlier the court had ordered MoFA to furnish documents related to the deal with Oberthur. MoFA, submitting the documents, replied that a formal agreement has not yet been signed with Oberthur.

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