Writ petition seeking VAT exemption on Sanitary Pads

KATHMANDU: AUGUST 11 – A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking VAT exemption on Sanitary Pads. A writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday seeking repeal of 13 per cent VAT on Sanitary Pads used by women.

Abhyudaya Bhetwal and Sreena Nepal have filed a petition against the Ministry of Finance, Health, Women and Children and Law. “Yes, we have registered,” Abhyudaya told Makalu Khabar. “54.395% of the total population of Nepal is used by women for one week every month, and every month for about 38 years during the menstrual cycle.” The imposition of a 13% value-added tax and customs duty on sanitary products as a ‘luxury item’ is a violation of the fundamental rights and sovereign human rights provided to all women in Nepal by the Constitution.

The writ petition also demanded that the Sanitary Pads be included in the list of essential items, saying that they were included in the quota of ‘luxury items’ by the finance ministry.