KATHMANDU: The hearing of the writ petition demanding the suspension of Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane has been canceled for today.

The hearing was initially scheduled to be conducted by a joint bench of Judges Binod Sharma and Manoj Kumar Sharma.

However, it was canceled because Judge Manoj Kumar Sharma had previously passed an order in the case.

A bench consisting of Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Til Prasad Shrestha had earlier directed the summoning of the charge sheet filed in the Rupandehi District Court concerning the petition seeking Lamichhane’s suspension.

The petitioners highlighted that Lamichhane’s name was mentioned in the charge sheet, along with details of loans taken by him.

In their order, Justices Sharma and Shrestha stated that they would prioritize the case according to the earlier directive, aiming to resolve any confusion regarding the cooperative fraud dispute involving GB Rai.

Advocate Anupama Bhattarai lodged a writ at the Supreme Court seeking Lamichhane’s suspension.

The petition also seeks to annul a letter from the Attorney General’s Office, which stated that there is no case of cooperative fraud against Lamichhane.

The Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel, and Home Minister Lamichhane have been named as respondents in the writ.

Bhattarai contends that the roles and responsibilities held by the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister could unduly influence the investigation process and adversely affect it, contrary to the principles of natural justice.

Consequently, an interim order has been requested to suspend Lamichhane from his ministerial position while the investigation is ongoing.

This request has been directed at the Government of Nepal, the Prime Minister, and the Council of Ministers.