National
Dr KC alliance asks CIAA for Karki’s property details
Supporters of Dr Govinda KC filed an application at the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority on Sunday, seeking information on the property of CIAA Chief Commissioner Lokman Singh Karki.Supporters of Dr Govinda KC filed an application at the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority on Sunday, seeking information on the property of CIAA Chief Commissioner Lokman Singh Karki.
Hundreds of supporters associated with the ‘Solidarity with Dr KC Alliance’ queued up outside the CIAA’s office in Tangal, braving rain amid the presence of a considerable number of security personnel, before submitting their application to the anti-corruption body.
Dr KC has accused CIAA chief Karki of corruption and demanded impeachment against him. Three lawmakers have registered a motion in Parliament to discuss complaints against Karki, who did not attend a session with a parliamentary committee earlier this week to discuss matters related to his office citing his “ill health”.
The applicants sought information whether Karki has furnished his property details and declared their sources to the concerned government body as mentioned in the Anti-corruption Act. They also asked for a copy of the details of property owned by Chief Commissioner Karki.
As per the CIAA Act, public officials have to disclose their property details within 60 days of assuming office. The Act also requires office bearers to update their personal property details, as well as those of their family members, at the end of the fiscal year.
They made it clear that the information possessed by the anti-graft body regarding Karki’s property should be made public since it is not something confidential as defined by the constitution. They invoked the Right to Information Act to demand the information.
“All citizens are equal before the law; no one is above the law. But Karki has tried to keep himself above the law,” the alliance said in a statement, arguing that Karki’s reluctance to furnish his property details is against democratic principles.
Alliance members stated that if the CIAA does not respond to their request, they will knock on the door of the Supreme Court to access the information. As per the law, the CIAA has to reply to their application within two weeks.
“If the anti-graft body fails to respond to us, we can go to the National Information Commission with our plea,” said Bidushi Dhungel, a member of the alliance. She added that it would be better if Karki, the head of a constitutional body, furnished his property details before people had the recourse to demand it.
In April, Suman Shrestha filed a similar application at the CIAA demanding the property details of Karki.