KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has issued an order in the name of Nepal Pragya Pratisthan (Nepal Academy) and other bodies to present the reasons in writing for the demolition of the house of the great poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota.

Hearing a petition filed by advocate Sanjay Adhikari alleging that the defendant Nepal Academy and other organizations involved in the ‘reconstruction’ demolished a house of archeological importance, the single bench of Justice Tej Bahadur KC sought a written reply from the opposition including the Academy.

Although the writ petitioner sought an interim order to stop the demolition of the house, the apex court did not issue an interim order.

Writ petitioner Adhikari has argued that it is wrong to demolish a house of archeological importance as it would destroy the heritage associated with the great poet Devkota and has demanded an order to protect it.

Nepal Academy is preparing to build a new house by demolishing Laxmi Prasad Devkota’s house in Maitidevi. But writers and conservationists have been saying that Devkota’s house should be retrofitted rather than demolishing it.