Judges Malla and Subedi to hear case against Home Minister Lamichhane

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a writ petition seeking the suspension of Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane on Friday.

The joint bench of Judges Sapana Pradan Malla and Sharanga Subedi will preside over the hearing.

Previously, a hearing planned for Tuesday with Judges Binod Sharma and Manoj Kumar Sharma was cancelled because Judge Manoj Kumar Sharma had previously ruled on the case.

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 for Lamichhane’s suspension.

In their order, Justices Sharma and Shrestha prioritized the case in line with an earlier directive to address any confusion related to the cooperative fraud dispute involving GB Rai.

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

The petition highlighted Lamichhane’s inclusion in the charge sheet and details of loans taken by him.

The petition also aims to invalidate a letter from the Attorney General’s Office stating no case of cooperative fraud exists against Lamichhane.

The respondents in the writ include the Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel, and Home Minister Lamichhane.

Bhattarai argued that Lamichhane’s roles as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister could unduly influence the investigation process, violating principles of natural justice.

Accordingly, an interim order has been requested to suspend Lamichhane from his ministerial position pending the investigation.

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