KATHMANDU: Justices have expressed concern over the protracted argument in the Constitutional Bench over the writ petition against the dissolution of the House of Representatives.
Even though the Supreme Court has set a time limit of 15 to 30 minutes for the advocates to complete their arguments, while junior lawyers abided by the limit, senior lawyers asked for one hour.
Senior Advocate Shambhu Thapa took more than three hours in two days.
The Constitutional Bench on Wednesday said it was necessary to set a time limit for the lawyers to ensure early completion of the debate.
“Delaying justice is like denying justice,” CJ Cholendra Rana told lawyers, adding, “If the debate goes on like this, it will be delayed.”
He further said, “We cannot give more than 10/15 minutes to the advocates of the writ petitioner Dev Gurung. Please do not be stubborn.”
Gurung’s lawyers had asked for two more days for the arguments.
However, the bench had said that it would be difficult to give more time to the lawyers of the same writ petitioner.
CJ Rana said, “From tomorrow, you have to finish your arguments within the time limit.”
There are 13 writ petitions against the dissolution of the HoR. Gurung is the eighth writ petitioner.
Five writ petitioners and their lawyers are yet to make their arguments.
Meanwhile, 11 lawyers from the Attorney General’s Office and Prime Minister KP Oli’s side will start their arguments.
Comment