Harka Sampang's Driving License Found Canceled

Kathmandu. House of Representatives member Harka Sampang's driving license has been found to be canceled. Upon checking the records of the Transport Management Office, Itahari, it was found that Sampang had not renewed his license after Poush 6, 2071 BS. At that time, he had renewed his category (A) license with a fine. Thereafter, he was found not to have renewed his license within the period it was due for renewal, a high-ranking official from the Police Headquarters told Ratopati. The Highway Security and Traffic Management Division of the Police Headquarters is investigating the matter. According to Section 57 of the Vehicle and Transport Management Act 2049 BS, there is a provision for the driving license to be automatically canceled. According to that act, his driving license's validity has expired, an official from the Highway Security and Traffic Management Division said. He said, 'Further investigation and legal consultation are underway.' He has not renewed the license, which expired in 2016 (Poush 12, 2073 BS), to date. He has not renewed his license for about 10 years. It is possible to renew a license by paying a fine within 5 years of its expiry. Sampang, the founder of the Labor Culture Party, was elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Sunsari-1. Prior to that, he was the mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City. On Jestha 29, he was penalized by the traffic police for recklessly driving a motorcycle with license plate Bagmati Province 02-60 P 0259 on the Madan Bhandari Lokmarg in Udayapur Gadhi Rural Municipality-6, Udayapur. The Highway Security and Traffic Management Office, Itahari, issued a ticket in his name. On Jestha 25, the office informed him about the fine and made public the ticket issued in Sampang's name through the Police Headquarters' Facebook page. After a video of Sampang holding the motorcycle handlebar with one hand and filming with the other went viral on social media, netizens demanded action against him. It was found that Sampang obtained a new license from Itahari in 2006 and had not renewed it after 2014. He has not renewed the license, which expired in 2016 (Poush 12, 2073 BS), to date. Driving without a license is considered illegal.