Supreme Court suspends customs duty rule after public outcry at border points

Kathmandu-The Supreme Court has issued an interim order halting the implementation of the government’s decision to impose customs duty on goods worth more than Rs 100 at border checkpoints, following widespread public dissatisfaction in border areas.

A joint bench of Justices Hariprasad Phuyal and Tek Prasad Dhungana issued the order yesterday while hearing a writ petition that described the provision as impractical and burdensome for ordinary citizens.The rule introduced by the Ministry of Finance had sparked anger among residents of the Tarai-Madhesh border regions, where many people regularly cross into neighboring areas to purchase daily essentials. Locals complained that even basic goods such as vegetables, medicines, clothes, and household items were being stopped and taxed if their value exceeded Rs 100.

The strict enforcement at border checkpoints led to long queues, disputes with customs officials, and criticism from local traders and consumers, who argued that the policy unfairly affected low-income families and cross-border communities.With the interim order now in place, people will temporarily be able to bring in essential goods from across the border without facing the recently imposed customs restrictions