Citing that no ministers or other government officials are supposed to make official trips during the Dashain holidays, OPMCM rejected the travel documents submitted by the ministers seeking approval for initiating reimbursement procedures. [break]
As per regulations issued by OPMCM, ministers´ travel claims are reimbursed only after approval of their travel documents. OPMCM rejected the travel documents submitted by the ministers, saying the government does not bear expenses incurred during public holidays including Dashain.
"Dashain holidays are public holidays. Neither ministers nor other government officials are supposed to make any official trips during such holidays that place a financial burden on state coffers," said an official at OPMCM on condition of anonymity.
Most of the ministers who sought approval for their travel documents claimed that they were attending various programs in their respective districts even during Dashain.
Republica has learnt that Minister without Portfolio Laxman Lal Karna, Minister for Youth and Sports Ganesh Tiwari Nepali, and Minister for Federal, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Minendra Rijal submitted travel documents at OPMCM claiming that they made their trips even during the Dashain holidays.
Similarly, State Minister for General Administration Jeet Bahadur Darjee Gautam, State Minister for Energy Chandra Singh Bhattarai, State Minister for Industry Dan Bahadur Kurmi Chaudhari and State Minister for Commerce and Supplies Saroj Kumar Yadav sought approval for domestic trips of a personal nature made during Dashain.
The ministers seeking approval for their travel documents, however, said they havd no ill intention in submitting such documents.
“It was my duty to inform OPMCM about my travel plans during Dashain. I had no ill intention in seeking approval for my travel documents. It is up to OPMCM whether or not to reimburse my bills,” said State Minister Gautam.
Government officials, however, termed the minister´s attempt a “misuse of power.”
“Seeking approval for travel documents means seeking reimbursement of bills incurred during travel. This is nothing but an example of how our government ministers have long been misusing their power,” the source added.
Following reports of irregularities, OPMCM only recently asked ministers to furnish evidence of their domestic and foreign travel to claim reimbursement of expenses.
In a letter dispatched by OPMCM, the ministers have already been informed that the finance section at OPMCM will not reimburse expenses if they fail to show evidence where, when and why they made such trips.
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