Author: space4knews

The Consumer Court has addressed questions raised both on social media and in person regarding its recent decisions on compensation cases. One ruling awarded NPR 26.1 million in compensation to a victim burned by hot coffee spilled on a flight, while another granted NPR 1.1 million to an individual left semi-conscious for several months after suffering an electric shock in a hotel swimming pool. The court acknowledged that these judgments have attracted significant public attention.

“Many people have questioned why the compensation in the hot coffee case was so high, while the amount in the semi-conscious case was relatively low,” said Homanath Kandel, the court’s information officer.

Though the lower court has issued these judgments, dissatisfied parties may appeal to a higher court, with the enforcement of the rulings taking place only after final decisions. Since its establishment in Chaitra 2081 BS, the Consumer Court has registered 53 cases, of which 31 have been decided.

On Jestha 7, the Consumer Court ordered Qatar Airways to pay Lalitpur resident Preeti Thapa NPR 26,192,406 in compensation due to negligence by airline staff which resulted in burns from spilled hot coffee. Thapa had filed the case in the first week of Asar 2082 BS, demanding a total of 20 million US dollars. She claimed that the injury occurred two hours before landing in Doha from Boston in the last week of Asar 2080 BS and sought compensation for physical and mental pain, medical expenses, loss of income, and lost time.

The next day, on Jestha 8, the Consumer Court ruled that Sajilman Shakya from Lalitpur would receive NPR 1.1 million in compensation from Square Hotel. The case, filed by his wife Rajina Manandhar, detailed that Shakya suffered an electric shock while visiting the hotel’s rooftop swimming pool with their daughter.

The Consumer Court explained that compensation determinations depend on legal procedures and the parties’ capacities. Homanath Kandel noted, “Variations in judgments arise from differences in law, the abilities of the parties involved, and the nature of the case.” Since its inception, the court has handled 53 cases and delivered verdicts on 31. Even after compensation is awarded, dissatisfied parties have the right to appeal to higher courts, including the Supreme Court.

May 27, Kailali – The Lamkichuha Provincial Hospital in Kailali was inaugurated amid ongoing disputes with the local government. Sudurpashchim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah officially opened the hospital this morning amidst his conflict with Mayor Sushila Shahi. Due to the persistent disagreement, heavy security was deployed at the hospital and surrounding roads since early morning to maintain order during the inauguration.

The hospital, which will operate with 15 beds, has yet to reach an operational agreement between the provincial government and the municipality. In April, the Ministry of Social Development assigned three staff members including Medical Superintendent Dr. Kamlesh Prasad Yadav to work at the hospital. However, Mayor Shahi refused to allow the staff to join, arguing that the hospital had not yet been transferred to the provincial government, escalating the dispute further. This conflict led to a lockdown of the hospital on April 13, heightening tensions in the Lamki area.

Local residents attribute the core issue to the internal power struggle between Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, who represents the Lamki region, and Mayor Sushila Shahi. Supporters of Mayor Shahi were also expected to protest or obstruct the hospital activities, prompting enhanced security measures from early morning. Mayor Sushila Shahi is currently abroad.

May 28, Khotang — “Currently, deploying two to five or six farmer police or farmer army personnel in each ward can help chase away monkeys. Farmers can also assist by reporting monkey sightings in their fields,” said Kumar Acharya, Vice President of the CPN-UML in Khotang. To find solutions for controlling wild animals damaging agricultural crops, the Khotang District Coordination Committee organized an interaction with farmers on May 27. Acharya shared his views on monkey control during the event.

The program, held in the District Coordination Committee’s auditorium, was attended by farmers, local representatives, administrative and security agencies, agricultural offices, and political party representatives. Participant Dhyan Bahadur Rai proposed hiring guards with fixed salaries for six months annually to chase away monkeys. Farmer Jham Prasad Acharya, who agreed with the idea of employing guards to keep wild animals at bay, suggested forming crop protection committees in each ward and managing the guards through local government. He emphasized that by having guards monitor the monkeys, they could be driven away when approaching the crops.

Farmer Uddhav Prasad Acharya expressed similar views. He believes that municipalities, rural municipalities, or ward offices can secure relief for farmers if they hire guards to chase monkeys. He added that such control is possible if the government invests in it. During the interaction, farmers discussed various topics, including managing guards to chase monkeys, planting crop varieties that monkeys do not eat, capturing and sterilizing monkeys, relocating them, and, if necessary, culling them.

Mohan Gurung, Chairman of the Community Forest Users Federation, suggested adopting traditional knowledge and skills for monkey control. He proposed that the government conduct a nationwide monkey deterrence campaign every three years in the month of Chaitra (March-April) to effectively manage the monkey population. Although monkeys have caused problems for farmers, no comprehensive solution has yet been found. Sun Bahadur Rai, Chief of the Khotang District Coordination Committee, stated that efforts to find and research ways to reduce damage from monkeys and other wild animals are ongoing.

May 28, Nawalparasi. A bus bearing an Indian license plate met with an accident in Ghukhola, Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality-2, East Nawalparasi, along the East-West Highway, injuring six women. According to the District Police Office, the accident occurred around 4 a.m. on Thursday involving the bus with registration number UP 62 DT 2780.

Out of 35 passengers onboard, six women sustained injuries. They received initial treatment at Binayi Triveni Primary Hospital, Dumkibas, and were subsequently referred to Madhyabindu Provincial Hospital in Danda for further care, the police reported.

The injured include 62-year-old Sushila Nigot and 69-year-old Sushila GC from Maharashtra, India, along with 58-year-old Sangita Basnet, 47-year-old Bhasuli Kadam, 48-year-old Rekha Taure, and 45-year-old Yogita Balero, according to police.

The bus driver, 49-year-old Anil Kumar from Azamgarh district in India, has been taken into custody. The police confirmed that the highway remained open following the accident, and further investigation is underway.

May 27, Kathmandu – The Nepali Congress parliamentary party meeting is set to convene today at 11:30 AM at Singha Durbar. Called a day before the budget presentation, this meeting will involve in-depth discussions on the strategy for presenting the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 budget in Parliament, according to Congress officials. The budget is confirmed to be presented in Parliament on May 29.

The Chief Minister of Sudurpashchim Province, Kamal Bahadur Shah, is scheduled to inaugurate the Lamkichuha Provincial Hospital, leading to increased security in the area. The 15-bed hospital’s handover had sparked a dispute between Chief Minister Shah and Mayor Sushila Shahi, resulting in the hospital being locked down temporarily. In anticipation of possible protests from Mayor Shahi’s supporters, police forces have been deployed at the hospital premises to maintain order. May 27, Kailali.

The inauguration is planned for this morning, with a significant police presence already established before the Chief Minister’s arrival. The provincial government and the municipal authority have yet to reach an agreement on operating the 15-bed Lamkichuha hospital. Last month, the Provincial Social Development Ministry assigned Dr. Kamlesh Prasad Yadav, the Medical Superintendent, along with two other staff members to the hospital. However, Mayor Shahi contested the hospital’s handover to the province and instructed the staff not to report for duty, amplifying tensions.

This disagreement escalated to the point where the hospital was locked down on April 13, causing unrest in the Lamkichuha region. Although the province has completed all procedural steps and allocated the budget to establish the provincial hospital, the municipality’s refusal to hand over the facility has prolonged the conflict. Due to this internal strife between the Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah and Mayor Sushila Shahi, both representing the same region, there are concerns that supporters of the mayor might initiate protests or obstruct the inauguration. Consequently, security has been intensified since early this morning around the hospital.

May 28, Siraha – Armed Police Force Nepal, No. 7 Battalion Headquarters in Siraha, has made a significant contribution to state revenue collection through the control of illegal goods during the current fiscal year. According to a report released on the occasion of the battalion’s 19th founding anniversary, goods valued at NPR 98,278,329 have been seized and handed over to the relevant customs office in fiscal year 2082/083 (2025/26 to 2026/27 Nepali calendar).

Superintendent of Police Suman Jung Thapa Kshetri of the Armed Police Force Nepal No. 7 Battalion Headquarters, Siraha, stated that this achievement represents a major success in preventing illegal smuggling and trafficking activities in the border region.

Similarly, in fiscal year 2081/082 (2024/25), NPR 96,093,980 worth of illegal goods were seized and submitted to the customs office, according to published data. The Armed Police Force continues to prioritize border security, prevention of revenue leakage, and curbing illicit activities by maintaining effective surveillance, patrols, and intelligence-based operations.

During the program held on the occasion of the founding day, Madhesh Province Police Chief Krishna Dhakal emphasized the importance of maintaining a police force that is friendly toward citizens, stating that any form of misconduct is unacceptable. He said, “Citizens may react in any manner during service, but the police have no license to retaliate. The police’s responsibility is to enforce the law, but causing distress to citizens is not acceptable.”

Dhakal further underlined that as the police organization is funded by the public’s taxes, every police officer must be accountable and responsible. The event concluded with a commitment to deepen border security, revenue safeguarding, and citizen-friendly policing services.

The program was attended by Chief District Officer Surendra Paudel, District Coordination Committee Siraha Chairperson Dinesh Mahto, Chief of District Police Office Siraha Basudev Pathak, heads of various local bodies, and representatives of security agencies. The event was chaired by SP Suman Jung Thapa Kshetri of Armed Police Force Nepal No. 7 Battalion Siraha.

May 28, Kathmandu – Nepal Rastra Bank reported minor fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates today, with both slight declines and increases observed. According to the central bank, the buying rate of the US dollar was set at NPR 152.81 and the selling rate at NPR 153.41. The European euro’s buying rate stood at NPR 177.84 and selling rate at NPR 177.54, while the British pound sterling was quoted with a buying rate of NPR 205.32 and a selling rate of NPR 206.12. The Swiss franc had a buying rate of NPR 194.32 and selling rate of NPR 195.08.

The Australian dollar recorded a buying rate of NPR 108.97 and a selling rate of NPR 109.40. The Canadian dollar’s buying rate was NPR 110.42, with the selling rate at NPR 110.86. Singapore dollar rates were NPR 119.60 for buying and NPR 120.07 for selling. The Japanese yen (per 10 units) was valued at NPR 9.59 for buying and NPR 9.62 for selling. The Chinese yuan commanded a buying rate of NPR 22.53 and selling rate of NPR 22.72, while the Saudi Arabian riyal had a buying rate of NPR 40.72 and selling rate of NPR 40.88.

The Qatari riyal’s buying price was NPR 41.94 with a selling price of NPR 42.10. Thai baht stood at NPR 4.69 for buying and NPR 4.70 for selling. UAE dirham rates were NPR 41.61 and NPR 41.77, respectively, for buying and selling. The Malaysian ringgit’s buying rate was NPR 38.54 and selling rate was NPR 38.69. South Korean won (per 100 units) traded at NPR 10.20 for buying and NPR 10.24 for selling. The Swedish krona had a buying rate of NPR 16.49 and selling rate of NPR 16.55, while the Danish krone recorded NPR 23.80 for buying and NPR 23.89 for selling.

The central bank also reported that the Hong Kong dollar was set at NPR 19.51 for buying and NPR 19.58 for selling. Kuwait dinar’s buying rate was NPR 495.24 and selling rate NPR 520. The Bahraini dinar stood at NPR 405.33 for buying and NPR 460.92 for selling, while the Omani riyal was quoted at NPR 396.90 for buying and NPR 398.46 for selling. The Indian rupee (per 100 notes) was priced with a buying rate of NPR 160 and a selling rate of NPR 160.15.

Nepal Rastra Bank indicated that it may revise exchange rates at any time as needed. Commercial banks may use different rates, consequently, the most up-to-date exchange rates will be available on the central bank’s official website.

Ncell has been awarded the prestigious international standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications for delivering excellent service and effective environmental management. This achievement makes Ncell the first telecom service provider in Nepal to obtain both certifications. Previously, Ncell had also obtained and renewed ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 certifications, focused on data security and privacy. Kathmandu, 13 Jestha – Ncell has now received recognized ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, reaffirming the company’s commitment to providing high-quality services while minimizing environmental impact.

ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management systems that ensures the implementation of necessary processes to meet customer needs and regulatory requirements. Similarly, ISO 14001 pertains to environmental management systems, guiding organizations to act responsibly towards the environment, manage waste effectively, and comply with applicable regulations.

Michael Foley, CEO of Ncell, stated, “Having already been certified for ISO 27001:2022 (ISMS) and ISO 27701:2019 (PIMS) — focusing on data security and privacy — gaining ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications now clearly demonstrates our dedication to service quality and environmental responsibility.”

These certifications apply across all business sectors—B2C, B2B, and B2G—indicating that Ncell’s services operate according to globally recognized standards. The company originally received ISO 27001:2022 (ISMS) and ISO 27701:2019 (PIMS) certifications in Poush 2081 (December 2024) and has since renewed them.

Ncell stands as the first telecom provider in Nepal to secure both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. These certifications affirm the company’s focus on outstanding operations and sustainability within Nepal’s rapidly expanding digital sector.

For customers, this means more reliable network performance, superior service quality, and environmentally friendly operations.

The Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association has scheduled a special general assembly and elections to select new leadership on May 7. The District Administration Office of Kathmandu has granted permission to the interim committee, formed after the resignation of office-bearers, to conduct the assembly and elections. On April 26, the office-bearers, including General Secretary Mahesh Basnet, collectively resigned, following accusations that President Bhuvansingh Gurung acted unilaterally.

After receiving directives from the Kathmandu District Administration Office to operate in an acting capacity as per the association’s constitution, prevailing laws, and established procedures, the path was cleared for the assembly. The issued letter notes that the majority of office-bearers and members tendered their resignations. According to the letter, after the majority resigned, the advisory committee considered the executive committee automatically dissolved per the constitution and decided to establish a management committee to convene the special general assembly.

The management committee is preparing for the special general assembly and the election of new leadership on May 7. The administration has instructed that the process be conducted in accordance with the constitution. Although the office had previously requested necessary information from the association, it was reported that complete details had not yet been received. The management committee requested the administration to ensure no hindrance occurs during the assembly and election preparations, leading to the administration directing the police to provide security arrangements.

The letter highlights complaints that, due to the absence of elections, the association has been unable to represent itself effectively within various government bodies of Nepal, which has adversely affected activities related to the interests of entrepreneurs. The District Administration Office has directed the association to conduct regular operations and proceedings per the constitution and laws, provide timely notifications to affiliated organizations, work in an independent and impartial environment, and avoid any difficulties in lawful activities.

May 26, Kathmandu – The committee investigating former Home Minister Sudhan Gurung has taken his statement as part of its inquiry. The committee conducted continuous questioning of Gurung over two days, Tuesday and Wednesday. A source from the committee confirmed that his statement has been recorded. “We have taken the statement. If necessary, we may call him again,” the source shared. Prior to recording the statement, the committee reportedly consulted relevant parties linked to the allegations against Gurung and conducted a thorough review of his asset declarations.

Following the cabinet decision dated May 11, a committee was formed to investigate Gurung. It is chaired by former High Court Justice Achyut Prasad Bhandari, with Comptroller and Auditor General Shobhakant Paudel and Deputy Attorney General Achyutmani Neupane serving as members. After recording Gurung’s statement, the committee has entered the final phase of its investigation and is preparing to submit its report within a few days, according to committee sources. The report is currently being written and is expected to be presented to the government in its final form soon. As the committee’s 15-day mandate is nearing its end, the report preparation is progressing swiftly.

Committee Chair Bhandari previously assured that the report would be clear, concise, and delivered on time. He emphasized that the report would present findings based firmly on evidence, regardless of whether the subject is found guilty or innocent.

What are the allegations against Sudhan Gurung? Businessman Deepak Bhatt was arrested in Kathmandu on March 2 in connection with a money laundering case and remains in police custody. Due to his partnership ties with Bhatt, Gurung became embroiled in controversy. When Gurung disclosed his asset details, it was revealed that he had concealed shares and held shares in a company associated with the controversial businessman. Following the disclosure, Gurung submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister on April 21. His asset declaration stirred various public comments, especially regarding land and gold holdings. In his resignation letter posted on Facebook, Gurung stated, “In recent days, I have taken seriously the questions, comments, and public interest raised by citizens regarding shares and related matters. For me, ethics matter more than position. Nothing is greater than public trust. I request a fair and impartial investigation into matters concerning me.”

The government formed the investigation committee on May 14, about 20 days after Gurung’s resignation. He stepped down due to the allegations against him. Since then, the Home Ministry has been operating directly under the Prime Minister’s office. If the committee clears him of wrongdoing, discussions have surfaced about the possibility of Gurung resuming his position as Home Minister.