KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order on Monday in a petition challenging the government’s decision led by Balen Shah to abolish student organisations.
A division bench of Justice Sunil Kumar Pokharel issued the order after holding an initial hearing on the petition and also issued a show-cause order, directing the government and concerned authorities to clarify the basis of the decision.
The court has begun further hearings on the interim order.
Reacting on social media, Deepak Dhami, chair of the student wing ANNFSU, termed the Supreme Court’s decision a victory against authoritarianism and said the struggle would continue both on the streets and in the judiciary.
Earlier on Friday, several student organisations had jointly filed the petition at the Supreme Court. The petitioners included ANNFSU affiliated to CPN-UML, ANNFSU (Revolutionary) affiliated to CPN (Maoist Centre) and other student groups.
They argued that the government’s decision violated fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution, including the rights to association, assembly, and freedom of expression.
The petitioners further stated that the decision to dissolve student organisations would have a serious impact on political and academic freedoms.
The Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs have been named as respondents in the case.
Comment