KATHMANDU, JULY 2

The Supreme Court has issued a show cause order to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) in response to a writ petition filed by Motilal Lama on behalf of landless Dalits, squatters, and unorganized settlers.

Initially, acting on the directives of the Land Problem Settlement Commission, KMC had instructed all its wards to collect applications from landless Dalits and settlers. However, the next day, it abruptly rescinded the directive, ordering wards not to collect any such applications. Lama filed the pettition at the Supreme Court contesting this abrupt this reversal.

A single bench of Justice Bal Krishna Dhakal issued the order on Asar 17 (July 1), directing KMC and concerned authorities to explain their decision.

The KMC now has to clarify its contradictory stance on addressing the needs of its landless population.