SC bars Gandaki govt from taking decisions with long-term consequences

POKHARA: The Supreme Court has ordered Gandaki Province Government not to take any decision that can have long-term impacts.

Hearing a writ petition filed by Surendra Raj Pandey, the parliamentary party leader of Nepali Congress in Gandaki Province Assembly on Friday, a single bench of Justice Abdul Aziz Musalman issued the short-term interim order.

Pandey had challenged Speaker Krishna Prasad Dhital’s decision to formalize Khaga Raj Adhikari of CPN-UML as the Chief Minister even though he received 30 votes – one short of the required majority of 31 votes in the 60-member province assembly. He has made Province Chief Dilli Raj Bhatta, Chief Minister Adhikari and Speaker Dhital, among others, defendants.

The bench has sought written responses from both parties of the case and ordered them to attend the hearing on May 21.