The Biratnagar High Court has issued a show-cause notice against Biratnagar Metropolitan City for providing additional allowances to the people’s representatives.

Single bench of acting chief judge Binod Sharma on Sunday gave its verdict instructing the metropolis to furnish the reasons within 15 days for providing the allowances to people’s representatives.

Uttam Dhungel, the chairman of Public Forum working for consumer’s rights, filed a writ petition at the court on September 18 demanding mandamus and certiorari against Biratnagar Metropolis. In the writ, he has claimed that the local unit has been providing additional allowances to elected representatives in violation of the existing legal provisions.

The fourth municipal council of Biratnagar Metropolis held on June 10 had decided to provide Rs10,000 annually to each elected representative for uniform and provide Rs1,500 per month for fuel and telephone expenses. Dhungel claimed that the metropolis’ decision was against a provincial Act regarding facilities to the elected representatives of the local bodies.

There are altogether 103 elected representatives in Biratnagar Metropolitan City.

There is no provision of providing an allowance for uniforms in the Act endorsed by the provincial assembly last year. The metropolis has to bear Rs1.03 million for uniform allowance and around Rs1.8 million for fuel and telephone allowances annually.

As per the Act formulated by the province, mayor and deputy mayor of a metropolitan city receive Rs47,000 and Rs44,000 monthly under 11 different facilities. The ward chief, executive member and ward members receive Rs30,600, Rs17,600 and Rs14,100 respectively. But the elected representatives of the Biratnagar Metropolitan City are receiving more than what is mentioned in the provision.

The metropolis’ decision to provide additional allowances to the people’s representatives has drawn criticism from various quarters. Following the criticism, some of the representatives refused to receive the allowance set aside for uniforms.