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KATHMANDU, July 7: Amid growing misuse of government vehicles, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) has initiated steps to curb the practice. On Sunday, it issued a circular to all ministries, instructing them to submit details of vehicle users within seven days. Additionally, the National Vigilance Center, which operates under the OPMCM, has been tasked with monitoring the matter.
According to the Spokesperson for OPMCM Prem Prasad Acharya, the office has issued the circular to all ministries instructing them to submit details of users of all vehicles registered under the names of ministries and their subordinate bodies, boards, councils, secretariats, and related agencies. The circular also directs ministries and their offices to provide details of employees and officials who use vehicles officially registered in their names or received through transfer. The OPMCM has specifically asked for information identifying who is using which government vehicle.
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The Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security (MoLESS) had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs on 29 June, reporting that its government vehicle — a Mahindra Scorpio with registration number Pra 3-01-002 Jha 5367 — had gone missing. However, the vehicle returned to the ministry just two days after the letter was sent. According to an undersecretary at the ministry, Minister for LESS Sharat Singh Bhandari has been claiming that he had given the vehicle for use by Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) Chairperson Mahantha Thakur.
The OPMCM issued the directive in response to growing criticism over the chairperson of a political party using a government vehicle. While the OPMCM had previously requested details of ministries' vehicles, this is the first time it has asked for information on who is using them.
According to a source at the OPMCM, misuse of government vehicles is widespread, not only in the MoLESS but across most government offices. In some cases, even government drivers are involved in the misappropriation. Some high-ranking officials reportedly continue to use official vehicles even after retirement, without returning them to their respective offices.
