The Department of Supplies Management (DoSM) has begun legal proceedings against 12 firms in the Kathmandu Valley on the charge of committing business malpractice.

A number of them were found to have violated government rules and others were caught selling substandard food products and putting consumer health at risk.

Among the businesses facing action, five are cold stores and meat shops, four gasoline stations, two pharmacies and the rest bottled water producers. They were charged during a special market monitoring carried out by the department last week.

The meat shops are Bikesh Meat Shop in Dekocha, Bhaktapur; Adhunik Ganga Cold Store in Nakhkhu, Lalitpur; Lalit Fresh House in Dolahiti, Lalitpur; KC Chicken Store in Gongabu, Kathmandu and Sagarmatha Meat Product in Baniyatar, Kathmandu.

Sagarmatha Meat Product was found selling sausages made of spoiled meat and chemicals that are harmful to human health. Similarly, KC Chicken Store was charged with selling chickens that died from diseases, and Bikesh Meat Shop was operating without a licence.

Likewise, the DoSM has shut down four gasoline stations—GMB Enterprise in Jorpati, Kumari Oil Store in Battisputali, Khadka Oil Suppliers in Bansbari and Rajdhani Oil Store in Dhumbarahi. The department took action against them for giving short measure to their customers.

Meanwhile, Venus Pharma in Mid-Baneshwor and the pharmacy of Buddha Dental Hospital in Chabahil were booked, respectively, for not maintaining proper records of sales of narcotic drugs and operating without a licence.

The hospital pharmacy had also been selling medicines without proper labeling and operating without a licenced pharmacist.

Kabita Beverage of Matatirtha has been charged with operating without a permit and selling water jars without marking the expiry date on the product label.

DoSM Director General Kumar Dahal said the department had started consulting with the public attorney to file cases against these firms. “According to the Consumer Protection Act 1998, the owners face fines of up to Rs10,000 and three years in jail,” he said.

The department checked 453 firms and public transport vehicles during the aggressive market monitoring conducted last week.

Among the 247 public transport vehicles inspected, the department took action against 121 on the charge of overcharging passengers. They were fined Rs5,000 each on the spot. Seven Sajha buses were also penalised for the same offence, the department said.