Kathmandu, January 10

Only 336,731 out of 361,107 persons holding public office have furnished their property details in the fiscal year 2014/15, says National Vigilance Centre.

Although 22,860 employees of civil service, military and police, teachers, professors and local body staff failed to submit their property details, an additional 37,327 persons complied with the existing laws in 2014/15 compared to the last fiscal.

As per the Prevention of Corruption Act-2002, any person who joins public office is, within 60 days from the date of joining such office and thereafter within 60 days from the date of completion of each fiscal year, required to submit the updated statement of property in his/her or his/her family members name along with sources or evidence thereof to the body prescribed by the government.

The concerned body or authority may extend the deadline for submission of such details for a maximum of 30 days. If the person assuming public office does not submit the

statement of property within the time-limit extended, he/she will be liable to a fine of Rs 5,000 and the concerned body or official may launch investigation into the property in his/her and his/her family member’s names.

A deadline of September 14, 2015 was set for the persons assuming public office to furnish the property details for the fiscal 2014/15. “Only 336,731 persons submitted up-to-date statement of properties in their own and family member’s names.

Of them, 1,516 furnished property details after expiry of the deadline,” said a press statement issued by the NVC, a corruption watchdog under the direct supervision and control of the prime minister, today.

As many as 22,860 persons, who held public office, have yet to submit their property details. Former finance minister Ram Sharan Mahat was the only member of the previous Cabinet who did not make public his property details.

Similarly, former energy minister Radha Kumari Gyawali and minister for women, children and social welfare Neelam KC Mainali submitted the property details after expiry of the deadline.

Likewise, 37 members of the Parliament failed submit their property details while their 15 counterparts missed the deadline, informed NVC spokesperson Bishnuraj Lamichhane.