Kathmandu, February 17:

The Supreme Court today directed the government authorities not to implement the January 13 decision of the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM) that allows syndicate system in public transport.

A division bench of Justice Gauri Dhakal and Girish Chandra Lal issued the order following today’s hearing on a case filed against the decision as per the Transport Management Act, 1992.

The bench stated that the circular, issued by the Ministry to its sub-ordinate offices after an agreement with the Federation of Nepali National Transport Entrepreneurs’ (FNNTE) on January 13, was against the Act, which envisions free competition among transport service providers.

“Do not execute the decision of MoLTM,” the bench ruled.

The Ministry had directed the Transport Management Offices across the country to provide road permit, register routes and register new transport entrepreneurs’ organisations only after acquiring permission from the FNNTE.

Stating that the circular go against the Transport Management Act and the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, the Supreme Federation of Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs (SFNNTE) had registered a public interest litigation in the apex court to quash syndicate system.