KATHMANDU: Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota has termed the dissolution of the parliament as unconstitutional and undemocratic.
Issuing a statement Saturday, Speaker Sapkota claimed that the dissolution of the parliament was against the spirit of the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) on February 23. The SC on February 23 had overturned Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s December 20, 2020, parliament dissolution move.
The SC verdict had noted that parliament dissolution was unconstitutional when there was the possibility of an alternative government. It had also stated that election cost would put on undue pressure on the nation while the nation scrambled to contain the COVID-19 spread.
Speaker Sapkota has quoted the SC verdict in his statement today. Sapkota said the dissolution came at a time when there was the possibility of forming an alternative government pursuant to Article 76 (5) of the constitution.
Speaker Sapkota said the statement issued by the Office of the President Friday night does not seem to be in line with the provisions of the constitution, the Political Parties Act 2017 and the Rules of the House of Representatives 2019.
Concluding that the move went against the principles of separation, balance and control of power, Sapkota appealed all to unite to oppose the move and defend the constitution and parliamentary system.
Earlier, Sapkota held consultations with legal experts on the matter of House dissolution.
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