Writ against fuel price

Kathmandu, Feb 21-A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court on monday challenging the government’s recent decision to authorise private sector in fixing price of petroleum products.Lawyers Jyoti Baniya and Anuttam Uprety filed the petition on behalf of the Consumer Protection Forum.

The petitioners sought the apex court order to the authorities to immediately scrap the decision to authorize private sector to fix the price of fuel. The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ministry of Industry Commerce and Supply, Nepal Oil Corporation, its board of directors and Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association have been made defendants.

“They have authorised the dealers to do anything against people’s wishes and such things shall not be acceptable.

The lawyers argued that the authorities have no right to grant the power to the private sector to fix the price of petroleum products without consulting the consumers. “Such an action from the government should be declared null and void,” the petition demanded.

They also sought the apex court order to the authorities to make public the agreement signed between the Indian Oil Corporation and the Nepal Oil Corporation and to maintain transparency while taking decision on the issue.