Writ against Koshi govt being heard in the full bench of SC from today

KATHMANDU: The writ petition against Koshi Chief Minister Uddhav Thapa is going to be heard continuously in the full bench of the Supreme Court from today.

The joint bench of judges Sapana Pradhan Malla and Sushmalata Mathema directed yesterday that the writ petition be submitted to the full bench for continuous hearing beginning today.

Hikmat Kumar Karki, leader of the UML parliamentary party, filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court alleging that Chief Minister Thapa’s final vote of confidence on Bhadra 4 (Aug 21) was illegal. While Thapa was casting his vote of confidence, the assembly’s chairman, Ismail Mansuri, also voted.

Karki, the leader of the UML parliamentary party, filed a petition in the Supreme Court on August 5, saying that the Speaker had voted against the constitution. Hearing on the writ on Bhadra 7 (Aug 24), the bench of Judge Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada issued a short-term interim order to prevent the Koshi government from making a decision that would have long-term effects.

Earlier too, the Supreme Court ruled that the process of government formation was unconstitutional and dismissed Chief Minister Thapa because he made the then Speaker of the State Assembly, Baburam Gautam, to sign the claim form for government formation.