The Election Commission Nepal has decided to seek clarification from 86 political parties that have not submitted their audit reports.
As per Monday’s decision, the commission has decided to seek clarification from forty-six political parties that have not submitted audit reports to the commission for three consecutive fiscal years.
Similarly, the commission on Wednesday decided to seek clarification from forty political parties that have not submitted audit reports regularly.
Issuing a statement here on Wednesday, the Election Commission, Nepal, informed that it has issued letters seeking clarification from 86 political parties.
The commission has given a seven-day ultimatum to furnish their clarification, with justified and satisfactory reasons for not submitting their audit reports.
The commission has asked clarification from Ratriya Churebhawar Party, Churebhawar Rastriya Party, Rastriya Trimul Bahujan Samajbadi Party, Akhanda Nepal Party, Lok Dal, Yuba Shakti Nepal Party, Hamro Nepal Party, Rastriya Shivasena Party, Shramik Janata Party, Nepa: Rastriya Party, among others for not submitting its audit reports for three consecutive years.
Similarly, the commission has sought clarification from Adhunik Nepal Samajbadi Party, Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch Tharuhat, Nepal Aama Party, Prajatantrik Party Nepal, Nepal Matribhumi Party, Muskan Sena Nepal Party, Nepal Samabesu Party, Nepal Dalit Party, Bahujan Samaj Party Nepal, among others, for submitting their audit reports for one or two years.
As per the Article 269 of the Constitution and Political Party Act, 2017, the political parties registered with the ECN are required to main real accounts of their income and expenditure, appoint a responsible official for this purpose, audit its income and expenditure within six months of the end of the financial year and submit it to the commission within one month after auditing by a licensed auditor in accordance with the law.
The audit report should contain the specified details and within 45 days of the expiry of the submission period, and the commission may order such parties to submit an explanation for not submitting their audit report, the commission stated in its statement.
If any political party is found not keeping an account, audit not done or audit report not submitted to the commission and if the explanation is not submitted as demanded by the commission, then a fine of up to Rs. 20,000 can be imposed.
Similarly, a political party that fails to submit an audit report to the commission for three consecutive years may be fined up to Rs. 50,000 and ordered to correct such action within six months.
If the fine is not paid or they fail to rectify their action on time, the commission can order such parties not to participate in an immediate election, the commission stated.
According to the ECN, if the offense is committed more than once or the order is not complied within a year or the prescribed fine is not paid, the commission may cancel the registration of such party in accordance with the same Act.
Source : THE RISING NEPAL,
