Rastriya Samachar Samiti

Kathmandu, February 17:

The King has, in accordance with Article 115 (7) of the Constitution, constituted a six-member Corruption Control Royal Commission for effective enforcement of works relating to corruption control.

The King issued an order yesterday determining the rights, duties and responsibilities of the commission constituted under the chairmanship of Bhakta Bahadur Koirala, a notice issued by the Press Secretariat of the King yesterday said.

Shambu Prasad Khanal, Hari Babu Chaudhary, Raghuchandra Bahadur Singh and Prem Bahadur Khati are members of the commission while Kaski district judge Shambhu Bahadur Khadka is the secretary.

The commission can investigate and take action against any person on the basis of complaints or information received from any source in connection with smuggling or tax evasion, involvement in the dealing of illegal contracts and other works defined as corruption by the existing laws.

The commission will also have the powers enjoyed as per the existing anti-corruption laws by the investigation officials and the powers enjoyed by the Special Court.

The commission will have the right to punish any person proved to have committed a crime as per the laws on prevention of corruption. The person in disagreement with the decision administered by the commission may appeal the Supreme Court within 35 days.

The commission shall have the right to confiscate the property of the individual earned through the activities considered as corruption in accordance with the prevalent laws. Any other property multiplied on this property will also be conficated if it is proved that this property has been deposited in an individual’s name or anyone else’s name.

The property so confiscated will be nationalised. The commission can levy a fine of Rs 5,000 or imprisonment for six months or can do both if any individual causes obstruction in the investigation and action carried out in accordance with the order, the notice further said.