Supreme Court hearing writ filed against Gandaki govt today

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) is hearing a writ filed against the Gandaki Province government today.

The bench of SC Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Saranga Subedi had on Monday conducted the hearing.

The Nepali Congress had filed a writ against CPN-UML parliamentary party leader Khagaraj Adhikari, who assumed the role of Chief Minister along with the Speaker’s signature.

Previously, on April 10, a single bench of SC Justice Binod Sharma issued an interim order prohibiting decisions that could have enduring impacts on the Chief Minister in question.

Furthermore, the government was directed by the Supreme Court to submit a written response by April 19, along with all documents pertaining to the appointment of officials to the Chief Minister.

Outgoing Chief Minister of Gandaki Province and leader of the Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party, Surendra Raj Pandey, has sought an interim order in the writ.

He has demanded a halt to the government formation process, citing violations of the constitution and law.

The appointment of the Chief Minister by the Province Chief, Dilliraj Bhatta, based on the majority of signatures alongside the Speaker, has been contested in the writ.

It’s alleged that the provincial chief, Bhatta, himself acted in contravention of the constitutional guidelines.