KATHMANDU, Jan 7: Amidst repeated government promises to return the property seized by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) during the conflict period, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the government to return all the seized properties within three months. [break]
Illegal goods imported from India seized
“The plaintiffs be returned their seized property within three months through a systematic way,” the court said while upholding the rights of the conflict-affected.
Justices Min Bahadur Rayamajhee and Kalyan Shrestha passed the order in response to a joint writ petition filed by 44 people (the plaintiffs) from Banke, Dang, Bardiya, Kailali and Salyan districts.
The apex court also ordered the government to set up mechanisms of political parties, government bodies and the victims (whose properties have been seized) at the local level to facilitate the return of the confiscated properties.
“The plaintiffs also be provided compensation of the property-seized period,” the court further said in its ruling.
Return of the properties confiscated by the Maoists during the conflict time has featured in almost all the agreements between political parties and the Maoists to date. Maoists have also repeatedly promised to return the seized properties time and again. However, the issue has remained outstanding to date.
