Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 3:

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has made it clear that it had directed the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management to take action against Lumbini Overseas as the firm did not follow the ministry’s order while selecting workers for sending them to South Korea.

“We asked the Ministry to take action according to the Transport Management Act,” a written reply, furnished today at the Supreme Court by CIAA secretary Bharat Bahadur Thapa, stated. It, however, did not make clear whether or not it directed the Ministry to revoke the license of Lumbini Overseas.

The CIAA came clear in response to the apex court which had directed the CIAA, the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet (PMO), the Ministry of Labor and Transport Management and Minister Raghuji Pant to clarify about the cancellation of the Lumbini Overseas’ license.

The anti-graft body also urged the SC to annul the writ petition filed by Lumbini Overseas’ managing director, Kul Bahadur Karki, against the authorities, including the CIAA.

The apex court had issued a stay order against the authorities not to implement the ministry-level decision taken on December 7 to cancel the license of Lumbini Overseas. On December 21, Lumbini Overseas had moved the apex court against the ministry’s decision, questioning the legality of the decision.