Kathmandu, Aug. 24 -- The Supreme Court has issued a writ of mandamus ordering the government to ensure that dairy farmers are paid their outstanding dues without delay. The court ruled that prolonged non-payment by dairy industries and the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) has violated farmers' constitutional rights.

Although the verdict was issued in December 2024, the full text of the ruling by a division bench of Justices Nahakul Subedi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel was made public only on Sunday.

The court ordered the government to ensure that the DDC and private dairy companies clear all outstanding payments owed to milk-producing farmers.

The bench found that the failure to make timely payments had adversely affected fa...