KATHMANDU, Nov 30: A contempt of court charge was filed at the Supreme Court  (SC) on Friday against the high authorities including Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya, accusing them of not abiding by a court order issued in relation to keeping intact the environment of the capital city by controlling visual pollution.

Advocate Padam Bahadur Shrestha filed the writ petition, accusing the government authorities of not abiding by the apex court order issued some four years ago.

Stating that the apex court on September 2, 2015 had directed the authorities to maintain the environment of the capital city by controlling visual pollution but the government authorities have been ignoring the court ruling, the petitioner has sought action against various other people holding high positions.

Besides Home Minister Thapa and KMC Mayor Shakya, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Hridayesh Tripathi, Minister for Urban Development, Mohammad Istiyak Rai, Kathmandu Chief District Officer Janak Raj Dahal, KMC Chief Executive Officer Kedar Dahal have been made the defendants in the petition.

The petitioner has claimed that though the apex court ruling on September 2, 2015 asked the authorities to remove visual pollution from various walls, hoarding boards, and roads and buildings in the capital city to ensure a better environment, the authorities have completely ignored the the ruling.

The petitioner has urged the court to punish the defendants with one year jail sentence and a fine of Rs 10,000 each as per Article 129(4) of the Constitution and Section 17 of the Administration of Justice Act, 2017.

 
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