An ordinance for the royal family's expenses was recently passed in secret, a move that major political parties and some intellectuals have been opposing vehemently. It was created by an amendment to the Royal Expenses Management Act 1972 that allows the king to increase the royal palace's expenditures to any amount he desires. Payments were made till six months after the provision had expired. This controversial ordinance was pushed through the interim government just days before Lokendra Bahadur Chand resigned from his post. If the constitution is considered valid, the previous law's tenure has ended. The fact that the news was kept under wraps has raised suspicions. "It is a blow to the people's right to knowledge," says lawyer Bhimarjun Acharya. The people are owed an explanation.