KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court today upheld the monopoly of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) in supplying

petroleum products in

the country.

A three-member bench of justices Khil Raj Regmi, Mohan Prakash Sitaula and Abdhesh Kumar Yadav upheld the monopoly of the NOC. The bench was responding to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) referred by a division bench of Justices Bala Ram KC and Tahir Ali Ansari.

The three-member full bench said it could not intervene since NOC was granted the monopoly by the state.

It further argued that private parties can not be given the prerogative to supply petroleum products based on the international markets.

The issue was referred to the full bench since Justice KC expressed views to curtail the NOC monopoly while Justice Ansari supported the monopoly of the NOC.

Advocates Chandra Kanta Gyawali and Bimal Gyawali had filed the PIL four years back seeking

the apex court intervention to curtail the NOC’s

monopoly and the control of the leakage of petroleum, audit of the NOC account as well.

Stating that the NOC has not been adjusting the price of the petroleum products, did not control the leakage and did not

adjust price as per the

fluctuation of international market, the petitioners sought the apex court intervention into the matter.