Govt revoked the contract given by former HM Rabi, procedures for procurement law violations also revoked

KATHMANDU: The government has revoked the contract agreement signed by former Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane in violation of the Public Procurement Act. The contract was canceled at a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.

The decision has been made to revoked the procedure for awarding the same contract. Lamichhane established a procedure on his third day as minister allowing contracts to be signed within a week, in violation of the Public Procurement Act.

The government will also investigate Rabi’s contract agreement and procedures.

Lamichhane, when he was the Minister of Home Affairs, decided to give the responsibility of the mechanism of collecting personal information of citizens to a foreign private company. Lamichhane, who was sworn in as a minister on Dec 27, approved the procedure on Dec 29.

The government was taking the initiative to develop a mechanism for getting the biological and personal details of people tied to the National Identity Card when necessary.

Following the approval of the procedure, bids were requested on Jan 12 with a one-week deadline. Advantage International Pvt Ltd was awarded the contract on Jan 26.

The Public Procurement Act requires at least 45 days for inviting foreign tenders and at least 30 days for inviting national tenders.

Rabi Lamichhane’s MP and cabinet posts were revoked the day after the contract was awarded, following the Supreme Court’s verdict.