Kathmandu, June 21 -- Officials at the Inland Revenue Department, which has been reeling under a shortage of excise stickers that go on alcohol and tobacco products sold in Nepal, heaved a sigh of relief in February after the Supreme Court verdict allowed them to resuscitate plans to buy such stickers.

But the relief was short-lived as Perusahaan Umum Percetakan Uang Republik Indonesia (Perum Peruri), the Indonesian company selected to supply the stickers in March, didn't show up to sign a contract with the department.

"The Indonesian company has failed to show up to sign the contract," said Thaneshwor Gautam, deputy director general at the department. "So, we have confiscated the company's performance bonds and are initiating legal act...