KATHMANDU: In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Ncell and Axiata companies to pay capital gains tax amounting to over Rs 61 billion to the government.

A five-member larger full bench of Chief Justice Cholendra SJB Rana and Justices Meera Khadka, Bishwambhar Shrestha, Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Tanka Moktan has issued a mandamus order to the defendants—Ncell and Axiata—to pay the huge tax they avoided paying when Ncell shares changed hands three years ago.

Issuing the mandamus order in response to a writ petition filed by civil society members including Dwarika Nath Dhungel, the bench directed the two private sector telecommunications service provider companies to cough up the tax. (Republica)