The government has formed a high-level probe committee led by a former High Court judge to investigate the death of Ganesh Nepali, who died while undergoing treatment after attempting self-immolation outside the Department of Passports in Kathmandu.

A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday decided to form the committee under the chairmanship of former High Court judge Keshav Prasad Bastola.

Nepali poured petrol on himself and set himself on fire outside the passport office in Tripureshwor on July 9. He later died during treatment at a local hospital.

The formation of the panel follows an agreement between the government and Nepali’s bereaved family to conduct a judicial inquiry into the incident.

In a separate decision, the Cabinet also decided to withdraw the controversial three percent parity tax imposed on education and healthcare services.