SC refuses interim order in a petition against MCC implementation

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has declined to issue an interim order in a writ petition seeking a halt to the implementation of the American aid project Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Senior advocate Dr Surendra Bhandari filed the writ petition two years ago after the parliament ratified the MCC agreement in February 2022. Although the apex court administration had initially refused to register the petition, a single bench of Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla overturned the administration’s decision, and the petition was eventually registered on July 21, 2022.

After a hearing onf July 24, A single bench headed by Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, who has since been elevated to Chief Justice, issued an order, requesting all documents related to the case. The case was then heard after a gap of over a year on January 3, 2024, when a single bench of Justice Bal Krishna Dhakal issued an order to summon both parties for discussion.

A division bench comprising Justices Prakash Man Singh Raut and Bal Krishna Dhakal refused to issue a stay order on Friday and decided to proceed with the final hearing.

The United States has provided Nepal $55 million to implement an electricity transmission line and road upgrading project under the MCC.