SC hearing against cabinet reshuffle over, verdict expected in a short while

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court hearing against the recent cabinet reshuffle has concluded and a verdict is expected later in the day.

Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana, in course of the hearing, questioned how many ministers would remain in the government if those who became ministers from the last cabinet reshuffle are removed. Hearing the petition filed by Advocate Dinesh Tripathi against the cabinet reshuffle Tuesday, CJ Rana also inquired whether the old ministers would return after the removal of the new ones.

Replying to the division bench of CJ Rana and Justice Prakash Dhungana, Tripathi argued the incumbent caretaker government could not expand the cabinet as it has done by inducting a large number of ministers. Regarding CJ Rana’s other question, Tripathi responded that the court should interpret where old ministers could repeat if new ones are removed.

Advocates Shalikram Sapkota, Rajkumar Silwal and Birendra Sah along with Tripathi argued on behalf of the writ petitioner. Likewise, Attorney General Ramesh Badal and Deputy Attorney General Padam Prasad Pandey argued on behalf of the government.

On June 8, a single bench of Justice Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada had issued a show-cause notice seeking a valid reason for cabinet reshuffle within 15 days.

The petitioners in the writ demanded an interim order on the recent cabinet reformation arguing that a caretaker Prime Minister cannot reform the cabinet.

If the Supreme Court issues the stay order on the writ as many as 21 newly elected ministers will lose their jobs today.