Only a third of the elected representatives at the local levels have submitted their property details so far, according to the National Vigilance Centre (NVC).

A total of 12,723 elected representatives at the local levels submitted their property details out of around 36,000 representatives from the rural municipalities, municipalities and District Coordination Committees (DCCs). 

Clause 50 of the Corruption Prevention Act-2002 stipulates that individuals joining a public office is required to submit their property details within 60 days of assuming the public office and those engaged in a public office, should submit the details within 60 days of completing each fiscal year.

The local representatives elected in the first two phases of elections were supposed to submit their property details and that of their family members within mid-September 2017.

Those elected from third phase of local elections held on September 18 last year should have submitted the details within 60 days of they assumed office.

“We have submitted a report about property details of the elected local representatives to the Commission

for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA),” said Bishnu Raj Lamichhane, spokesperson for the NVC—the body responsible for keeping records of property details of the public officials.

The centre said it has not received property details of local representatives from 18 districts—Sankhuwasbha, Terhathum, Okhaldhunga, Siraha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Dhading, Nawalparasi (East), Manang, Humla, Dolpa, Jajarkot, Achham, Kailali, Darchula, Baitadi and Kanchanpur.

The DCCs were supposed to coordinate for collecting the property details.

Officials of some DCCs, however, lamented that they could not submit the property details to the NVC through the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration municipalities as rural municipalities did not provide the details to them.

Gyan Raj Koirala, district coordination officer at Kailali DCC, they had received letter from the ministry addressed to the DCC, municipalities and rural municipalities on July 12, 2017 and the DCC had notified to all local units about it.