Kathmandu, March 30

The Supreme Court today issued a writ of mandamus to the government telling it to ensure safe housing to people as demanded by petitioners.

The order was passed by a division bench of Chief Justice Sushila Karki and Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut on a writ petition field by Advocate Ananta Raj Luitel and others. Lawyers who pleaded on behalf of the petitioners in the bench argued that the devastation caused by 2015 earthquakes was evidence that safe housing was not ensured.

The petitioners had demanded that the government enforce appropriate criteria to ensure safe housing. They also urged the court to issue a directive order to the government to ensure construction of quake-resistant houses with enough open spaces and mandatory soil test before building houses. The petitioners have also demanded demolition of houses or parts of houses built in violation of the original designs.