Full bench hearing commences in ‘watchlist’ writ against Koshi govt

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court will hear the fate of the Koshi state administration in a full-bench hearing beginning today. Due to a shortage of time on Monday, the hearing was postponed until today.

The Supreme Court’s full bench will hear arguments on the validity of Koshi State Chief Minister Uddhav Thapa’s vote of confidence.

Last Sunday, a joint bench comprising Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Sushmalata Mathema agreed to refer the writ to the full bench. According to this, the petition will be heard by a full bench of at least three judges.

After Chief Minister Thapa took the vote of confidence by joining the votes of the chairman of the meeting, CPN-UML filed a petition in the Supreme Court saying that the action was unconstitutional.

The petition had already been fixed for a full hearing on last Friday, but even though it was brought to the bench of Justices Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada and Sushmalata Mathema last Friday, the hearing was scheduled for Sunday.

Former Chief Minister and leader of the CPN-UML State Parliamentary Party Hikmat Karki filed a petition in the Supreme Court claiming that even the members who presided over the meeting of the State Assembly gave Chief Minister Thapa a vote of confidence, which was illegal under the constitution.

The bench of Judge Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada issued an interim order not to make a long-term decision in the preliminary hearing on the writ, claiming that the Koshi government did not follow the process of taking the vote of confidence.

As a result of the injunction, the provincial government led by Thapa is at a standstill, unable to make any crucial decisions.

UML parliamentary party leader Karki filed a writ against the Koshi government in the Supreme Court on Bhaadra 6 (Aug 23).

He has filed a petition against the state chief Parshuram Khapung, Chief Minister Thapa, and the state assembly secretariat.