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🇳🇵 Nepal /Elections & Politics

Government’s asset scrutiny drive faces resistance as filings fall short

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Nepalese government's initiative to scrutinize the assets of officials since 2006 has seen low participation, with only about 10,000 out of an estimated 25,000 required individuals submitting declarations.
  • The deadline was extended to July 16 due to insufficient filings, and the campaign faces resistance, particularly from former judges who deem the asset investigation body unconstitutional.
  • Despite a boycott called by the Forum Judges Forum, Nepal, some former judiciary members have complied, while others, like former Supreme Court justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, have publicly challenged the commission's legality and shared their assets through media instead.

Nepal's ambitious drive to scrutinize the assets of officials who have held positions since 2006 is struggling to meet expectations, with participation falling significantly short of the estimated 25,000 required submissions.

I don’t consider it appropriate, necessary or lawful to submit my asset disclosure to the government-formed Property Inquiry Commission, 2026.

— Ishwar Prasad KhatiwadaFormer Supreme Court justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada explaining his refusal to submit his asset disclosure.

The commission, led by former Supreme Court justice Rajendra Kumar Bhandari, has only received around 10,000 asset declarations. This low turnout has forced the body to extend its initial one-month deadline to July 16. Officials report an increase in recent submissions and anticipate a significant rise by the new deadline.

However, the campaign is encountering growing resistance. The Forum Judges Forum, Nepal, has urged its members to boycott the process, deeming the asset investigation body unconstitutional. Despite this, two former chief justices and six former Supreme Court justices have submitted their declarations. Former Supreme Court justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada publicly released a 40-page legal opinion challenging the commission's constitutionality and stating he would not comply, instead sharing his assets via the media. He argued the commission violates Article 132(2) of the Constitution, particularly its chairmanship by a retired Supreme Court justice.

The body was constituted under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court justice Bhandari in violation of Article 132(2) of the Constitution.

— Ishwar Prasad KhatiwadaFormer Supreme Court justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada detailing his legal grounds for challenging the asset investigation commission.

The commission's mandate includes collecting, verifying, and investigating the assets of senior political office holders and high-ranking government officials. Alongside the asset declarations, approximately 3,000 complaints have been lodged requesting investigations into the wealth of various public figures. Khatiwada's public stance is expected to intensify the confrontation between the commission and former judiciary members, especially as a legal challenge to the body is already pending in the Supreme Court.

It would not be appropriate for me to submit my asset disclosure to an unconstitutionally formed property inquiry commission.

— Ishwar Prasad KhatiwadaFormer Supreme Court justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada stating his reasoning for not cooperating with the commission.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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