SC full bench to hear writ against Koshi govt from today

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court’s full bench is scheduled to hear the writ against the formation of the Koshi Province government starting today.

Previously, on Wednesday, a bench comprising Justices Til Prasad Shrestha and Balkrishna Dhakal directed that the writ be forwarded to the full bench for further hearing.

The judges, Shrestha and Dhakal, emphasized the need for constitutional interpretation in this dispute.

Former Chief Minister Kedar Karki filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court, arguing that it is unconstitutional to form a new government following the provisions of sub-section (5) of Article 168 of the Constitution.

Karki’s petition demands that the current Chief Minister Hikmat Karki be removed from his position and that he himself be reinstated as Chief Minister.

In the writ, Karki has named the Office of the State Chief, Koshi State Chief Parasuram Khapung, and Koshi State Assembly Apeaker Amar Bahadur Bista, among others, as respondents.

Hikmat Karki secured the Chief Minister position with the backing of 52 MPs from the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Center.

Following the identification of the members, provincial chief Khapung appointed Hikmat Karki as Chief Minister under clause (5) of Article 168 of the Constitution.