KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered to register the writ petition filed against Prime Minister and CPN-Maoist Center chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

Although the court administration decided not to register the writ petition earlier, SC overturned the decision and ordered its administration to register the writ petition against PM Dahal.
On 15 January 2020, speaking in a program organized in Tundikhel on the occasion of Maghi, the Maoist Center chair declared that he would take responsibility for only 5,000 people who were killed during the conflict- period.

Lawyers Gyanendraraj Aran, Kalyan Budhathoki, and others filed a writ in SC demanding an order to investigate and prosecute the Maoist Center supremo in criminal charges regarding this issue. However, the Supreme Court administration refused to register the writ stating that the application submitted based on the expression of a political nature could not be registered.

The petitioners filed another petition in the Supreme Court against the bench order. The division bench of Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Hari Phuyal ordered to register the petition. The petitioners are planning to register the application on Sunday.

Regarding the former rebel commander’s statement, the victims of the armed conflict filed a complaint with the police headquarters, the National Human Rights Commission, and other agencies, demanding action against him.

In one of the two petitions, the applicants have argued that PM Dahal has publicly taken responsibility for those who were killed during the armed conflict.

In another petition, those displaced, injured, and deprived of their property due to the conflict have demanded action against those involved in the torture and suffering and have demanded arrangements for the victims’ sustenance.