In line with the government’s policy of not accepting foreign aid in key state sectors, the Supreme Court has turned down a financial support of Rs460 million offered by the United Nations Development Programme.

The apex court decision comes at a time when the UNDP’s support to judiciary, a crucial state organ, has been questioned. The court decided not to receive

foreign aid in its regular business as that would be “inappropriate”.

“It would be better to seek budget from the government if we fall short of funds for any activity,” the SC argues. The UNDP had proposed renewal of its five-year Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection System in Nepal (RoLHR) programme.

“We have decided not to continue with the programme,” said Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee. The RoLHR programme has completed its first five-year term. Following debate over continuation of the project “against” constitutional provisions and the government’s policies and programmes, the court had formed a three-member task force to study the matter.

The panel led by Justice Hari Krishna Karki—with Justices Biswombhar Shrestha and Prakash Man Singh Raut as members—submitted its report recently. The report recommended that foreign support should not be accepted going against the state’s policy while labelling the RoLHR programme as inappropriate” for the judiciary.

The government has said all the expenses of the judiciary will be borne by the state coffers. The finance minister has allocated Rs4.5 billion for the judiciary in the upcoming fiscal year.The UNDP programme was aimed at “strengthening the rule of law, promoting human rights, and providing the poor and vulnerable communities better access to justice”.