Kathmandu, January 4:

The Supreme Court today quashed a public interest litigation seeking compensation for candidates and voters in case they suffered any damage for participating in the municipal elections scheduled to be held on February 8.

A single bench of Justice Kedar Prasad Giri dismissed the petition filed by a Kathmandu resident, Bijendra Lal Joshi, seeking an apex court order to the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet, Ministries of Home and Local Development and Election Commission to

make provision for compensating the persons who may be harmed for participating in the upcoming civic elections.

The petitioner had pointed out that the government had recently announced that it would provide compensation between Rs 5 to 7 lakh in case a government official or a security personal loses life while on duty during the polls.

Joshi had filed the petition on January 2.