Ghimire, a promoter of Sugam Gas, along with Nepal Petroleum Trade Links, faced charges like flouting the Anti-Black Marketing Act and the Consumer Rights Protection Act. In grave violation of competition law, his company was found circulating tampered cylinders with re-fitted foot and neck rings – an act that weakens the capacity of the cylinders to withstand pressure and renders them prone to leakage and explosion. Ghimire was caught red handed when the Bureau of Standards and Metrology conducted a raid in May. Officials found and seized 15,314 cylinders of 24 different companies at the SGC premises. There were also thousands of LPG cylinder foot and neck rings with the SGC name engraved on them.
But the latest decision by the outgoing Industry Minister Mahendra Paswan has left all of us bewildered. By overruling former industry minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara’s decision, Paswan last week let Ghimire escape by paying a fine of just Rs 500,000 and suspending SGC’s license for six months only. This is a sheer mockery of the rule of law and a grave violation of consumer rights. Had Mahara´s decisions been implemented, SGC’s license would have been scrapped by now and Ghimire might have faced heavy fine or even a 15-year jail term or both. The decision to release Ghimire is thus highly condemnable.
Consumer protection laws are designed to ensure fair trade competition and free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors. It is part of the government regulation which aims to protect the rights of consumers, particularly in areas where safety or public health is an issue.
Ghimire and SGC have conspired to cheat and flout the law of the land and have directly played with the safety and security of the consumers. All involved in releasing Ghimire must be questioned as the state cannot allow corrupt and criminals walk away free and thereby set a wrong precedent. Unfortunately, our politicians and policymakers themselves have become part of that nexus which promotes and protects the wrongdoings. Law and governance is hugely compromised. The new government can make an effort to set this right. The likes of Ghimire must be lawfully punished for people to retain their faith in rule of law and good governance.
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