SC stays implementation of NGO code of conduct

Kathmandu Nov 23-The Supreme Court Wednesday ordered the government to stay the implementation of the recently introduced code of conduct for non-governmental organisations as well as the ordinance promulgated for an amendment to the Social Welfare Council Act.

Deciding on a writ petition filed jointly by various NGOs including the NGO Federation, a single bench of Justice Parmananda Jha ordered the government not to implement the code of conduct and the ordinance which was issued on July 4 this year.

This implies that the government will not be able to enforce the NGO code at least until next Tuesday. The bench was responding to a writ petition jointly filed by a few NGOs, including the National Concern Society, challenging the code of conduct.NGOs had filed the case against the ‘restrictive’ code of conduct on November 21.

Political parties, several national and international development agencies and human rights groups have already denounced the code of conduct which aims to control the activities of the non-governmental organisations.

However, the government has said the code was enforced to make the NGO sector more dignified and transparent.