KATHMANDU, Sep 5: Amid growing concerns over the conduct and actions of local government officials, including Kathmandu Metropolitan City's Mayor Balendra Shah, the government has initiated the development of legislation aimed at regulating the behavior and responsibilities of local representatives. This move comes in response to instances where some local government representatives have been seen challenging constitutional and governance norms.
The proposed legislation, tentatively named the "Local Government Good Governance Act," is intended to establish guidelines for the ethical, moral, and financial conduct of local-level mayors, deputy mayors, ward chairpersons, ward members, municipal council members, village council members, and other public representatives. Additionally, it seeks to address issues related to harassment and misconduct among these officials.
According to sources within the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, the ministry has already commenced internal discussions to draft this crucial legislation. Senior officials have convened several meetings on this matter, and it has been included in the ministry's annual program.
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Former Federal Affairs Minister Aman Lal Modi initiated discussions on this draft legislation during his tenure. "Our aim is to create a law that regulates the ethical and financial conduct of our elected representatives at the local level," stated Modi. "Provincial governments already have similar regulations in place, but local representatives must also be held accountable for their actions, especially in terms of budget allocation."
The proposed Local Government Good Governance Act is expected to draw inspiration from the existing Good Governance Operation Management Act and Good Governance Operation Management Regulations established by the central government. A senior ministry official emphasized the primary objective of the legislation, stating, "We want to ensure that elected representatives adhere to the laws and regulations governing their conduct. For instance, if a citizen of Kathmandu Metropolis threatens to set fire to the metropolis office due to dissatisfaction with its services, the legislation will address the legal consequences of such actions. Similarly, if someone threatens to vandalize a ward office, the authorities will have the legal framework to respond appropriately."
The statement made by Mayor Shah of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), where he threatened to "torch Singha Durbar," not only contradicts ethical standards but may also entail legal repercussions, according to an official. This move to enact legislation governing the conduct of public representatives was prompted by concerns over potential harassment by elected officials. In a recent incident, Mayor Shah expressed his frustration after security personnel stopped his wife's car in Koteshwar, leading to a social media threat to set Singh Durbar on fire.
Following Mayor Shah's statement, an internal meeting was convened at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday to address the matter. During the meeting, discussions centered on potential actions to be taken against Mayor Shah. Consequently, on Monday, Khadga Bahadur Shrestha, Assistant Chief District Officer of Kathmandu District Administration Office, issued a statement. It urged all national service employees to refrain from making arbitrary statements on social media that could hinder the execution of their official duties.
The statement emphasized the principle that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law under Nepal's democracy and rule of law. It further highlighted the office's commitment to addressing expressions on social networks that discourage government initiatives and the public servants involved in such endeavors. The security agency pledged to uphold the rule of law and take action against activities that contravene the existing laws.
In response to criticism of his comment, Mayor Shah deleted the post from Facebook on Monday morning. However, public reactions, both positive and negative, continue to pour in regarding his statement.
