KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has declined to extend an earlier interim order that had temporarily halted the government’s decision to dissolve trade unions, effectively allowing the government to move ahead with its implementation.
With Friday’s ruling, the government now has legal grounds to proceed with enforcing its decision to dissolve trade unions operating in government agencies.
A Constitutional Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr. Manoj Kumar Sharma and Justices Nahakul Subedi, Binod Sharma, Abdul Aziz Musalman, and Mahesh Sharma Poudel delivered the verdict after concluding hearings on a writ petition filed against the government’s move. The hearing had begun on June 3.
Earlier, a separate Constitutional Bench led by then Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla, and comprising Justices Kumar Regmi, Hari Prasad Phuyal, Binod Sharma, and Sharanga Subedi, had issued a majority interim order instructing the government not to implement its decision.
During the proceedings, Justices Binod Sharma and Sharanga Subedi had expressed dissenting views, arguing that the implementation of the government’s decision would not cause irreparable harm.
The court had previously sought written responses from both sides through the Office of the Attorney General and also held discussions with the concerned parties.
The writ petition was filed by Bhawani Neupane Dahal, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Nepal Government Employees’ Organisation, challenging the government’s announcement to dissolve the trade unions.
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