SC summons home minister, mayor over ‘visual pollution’

Published On: December 6, 2019 07:55 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Photo: Republica/Files

KATHMANDU, Dec 6: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday issued summons to some bigwigs including Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya for not properly working as directed by the apex court some four years ago.

In response to a contempt of court case filed against them on November 29, a single bench of Justice Deepak Kumar Karki issued the order asking them to appear with written explanations why they did not properly work as asked by the Supreme Court.

The contempt of court charge was filed against the defendants accusing them of not abiding by the court order issued in relation to keeping intact the environment of the capital city by controlling visual pollution.

Stating that the apex court had directed the authorities to maintain the environment of the capital city by controlling visual pollution on September 2, 2015 but the government authorities neglected the judicial ruling, the petitioner sought action against the top brasses of the various authorities.

Besides Home Minister Thapa, Minister for General Administration Hridayesh Tripathi, Minister for Town Development Mohammad Itafaq Ansari, Kathmandu District Chief District Officer Janak Raj Dahal, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Shakya and Chief Executive Officer Kedar Dahal have been named as defendants in the petition.

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

Stating that they have the bad intention of continuing the status quo in terms of bettering the environment neglecting the apex court order, the petitioner has sought an order to punish each of them with one year jail sentence and a fine of Rs 10,000 as per Article 129(4) of the Constitution and Section 17 of Justice Administration Act, 2017.