July 29: The Supreme Court has issued a show cause notice to the Food Technology and Quality Control Department (FTQCD) for not letting a company import peas into Nepal.

A single bench of justice Bam Kumar Shrestha issued the notice to the department on Tuesday (July 29) to furnish reason behind its act. Kalwar Agro Industries had filed a contempt of court case at the Supreme Court against the department, arguing that the department did not comply with the apex court order issued earlier.

The Supreme Court had earlier issued an order not to stop the import of goods if the importer has fulfilled all necessary processes.

The importer had reached the department with the verdict for customs clearance of the goods but the government officials denied permission to the company to import the goods.

The Supreme Court has issued the fresh notice against Director General of the FTQCD Manita Joshi Baidhya asking for valid reasons why the importer cannot import the items.

The government had imposed a ban on import of peas, pepper, betel nuts and dates on March 29. The order was published in Nepal Gazette on April 6. The importer has been demanding release of the peas that were in the process of import before the government imposed the ban.

The department has maintained that the importer needs to take prior permission for import of such items and that the department cannot release the goods because of government order.