KATHMANDU, AUGUST 2

The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has given a 15-day deadline to the Marwari Sewa Samiti to review and negotiate the rent of Pashupati Dharmashala.

The Marwari Sewa Samiti has been using nine ropanis of land in Gaushala for area development since May 23, 2003, paying an annual rent of Rs 51,000.

As the samiti has been using the Dharmashala's land at nominal cost but renting it out for commercial purposes, the PADT has decided to re-evaluate the rent and reach an agreement within the given timeframe.

Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati, who is also the chairman of the PADT, mentioned that this decision aligns with the prevailing laws of Nepal, the directives of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), and the verdict of the Supreme Court.

The CIAA and the SC had previously directed to revise the rent contract, but the Marwari Sewa Samiti delayed implementation under various pretexts.

Now, the PADT is trying to resolve this long-term issue with a timely agreement.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 3, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.