Preliminary hearing on writ petition against House dissolution: Court denies interim order, seeks written response in a week

Kathmandu, Oct 29: The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday conducted a preliminary hearing on the writ petition filed against the formation of the present government, and dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR).     

The bench denied an interim order as demanded by the petitioners, but sought a written response from the defendants including the Office of the President, seeking reason why the interim order could not be issued against government formation and HoR dissolution. A week's time is given by the court to furnish the written responses.     

Nearly a one and half dozen of writ petitions were filed against the formation of interim government and HoR dissolution, making defendants to various sides, including the Office of the President.     

On behalf of the petitioners, senior advocates and advocates argued that the formation of government by inducting former Chief Justice Sushila Karki and former judge at Supreme Court, Anil Kumar Sinha, was against the constitution.     

Senior advocate Tikaram Bhattarai, former Chairman of Nepal Bar Association, Gopal Krishna Ghimire, and advocate Khamma Bahadur Khati, pleaded that the government was unconstitutional and it must not take decisions having long term importance.     

The constitutional bench comprising Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut, justices Sapana Pradhan Malla, Kumar Regmi, Hari Prasad Phunyal and Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma conducted the hearing on Wednesday.(RSS)