KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba should be appointed as the Prime Minister pursuant to Article 76 (5) of the constitution. However, the statement issued by the President’s Office with regard to Deuba’s appointment has stated that Deuba is appointed the prime minister as per the order of the Supreme Court (SC) instead of mentioning the constitutional provision.

The SC decision Monday ordered to appoint Deuba the prime minister pursuant to Article 76 (5) of the constitution from among the two claims presented.

UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and NC President Deuba both staked claim to garner a majority in the House of Representatives under Article 76 (5) of the constitution. The SC favored Deuba to Oli in its decision. The SC, reminding that Oli had previously admitted that he did not receive a vote of confidence and could not get a second vote of confidence, ordered Deuba’s appointment as per the same constitutional provision.

However, the President’s Office has tried to give an impression that Deuba was appointed as the prime minister as per the court’s decision rather than the constitutional provision.

Earlier, the statements issued by the President’s Office with regard to the appointment of the prime ministers specified the article concerned by which the prime minister was appointed. However, the President’s Office this time has not specified any article and stated that the appointment was as per the SC order.

The statement from the President’s Office is indicative of its dissatisfaction with the SC order. The SC verdict also stated that those not implementing the verdict were not be eligible to remain in their posts.