Kathmandu, June 1
Following his decision to reshuffle the constitutional bench that is hearing the cases filed against Prime Minister Oli’s decision to dissolve the House of Representatives, Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana has decided to resume the hearing on Sunday, June 6.
During the hearing today, Rana had asked controversial justices Tej Bahadur KC and Bam Kumar Shrestha to leave the bench voluntarily as some advocates questioned their integrity, but the duo refused. Instead, two other justices Deepak Karki and Ananda Mohan Bhattarai said they would leave the bench stating the bench has already been questioned.
Following that, Rana said he would announce the new team to hear the cases and resume the hearing coming Sunday.
(Updated at 1:30 pm)
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Supreme Court to halt House dissolution hearing for one week
Kathmandu, June 1
The Supreme Court is likely to halt the hearing of the writ petitions filed against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s decision to dissolve the House of Representatives for around one week.
The five-member constitutional bench had begun the hearing last week. However, it has not entered the main issue with many lawyers asking justices Tej Bahadur KC and Bam Kumar Shrestha to leave the bench arguing they should not hear this case due to the conflict of interest.
From the government side, Attorney General Ramesh Badal had protested the request, even warning them of action from Nepal Bar Council, but the petitioners had not budged.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court Bar Council President Purna Man Shakya, who is also against the House dissolution and presence of KC and Shrestha in the bench, had met Chief Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana this morning with a request to reshuffle the bench.
During the meeting, Rana agreed to revise the rules on the constitutional bench to make sure that the justices are selected on a seniority basis unless there is a conflict of interest or health issue, Shakya informs after the meeting.
Amending the rules takes time, hence the court is likely to resume the hearing next week only, according to him.
