The government in Nepal has decided to take over the palaces and properties of the King, who has already been deprived of most of his powers by the Parliament, including the coveted title of the Supreme Commander of the Nepal Army.

A high-level ministerial committee today decided to register seven palaces including the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, Lamjung Durbar, Gorkha Durbar,Hanumandhoka Durbar, Nuwakot Durbar, Lalitpur Durbar, and Bhaktapur that are being used by the King and his family members in the name of the government of Nepal.

According to minister Hisila Yami, the committee decided to register the palaces and 1500 ropanis of land belonging to the King in the name of the government.

The committee also decided to seal all bank accounts of the King, Queen and Crown Prince to stop all transactions of money transferred from the late King Birendra and late Queen Aishwarya, The Himalayan Times Online reported today.

The government has also directed the authorities to remove all photographs and slogans valourising the monarch from the military headquarters and other buildings of the army.

The Nepal Army has started removing pictures of King Gyanendra and Queen Komal and slogans praising the monarch following a directive of the government, a Nepal Army spokesperson said.

In the wake of protests from civil society and other groups, the interim government led by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Sunday ordered the Ministry of Defence to direct the Nepal Army headquarters to remove all photographs and slogans valourising the King, the official said.

Slogans in praise of the King and queen in the headquarters premises have already been covered as it takes sometime to wash out the paintings and repaint them, an army official said.