SC dismisses petition against Hikmat Karki’s appointment as Koshi Chief Minister

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the appointment of Hikmat Karki of CPN-UML as the Chief Minister of Koshi Province.

A full bench comprising Justices Kumar Regmi, Dr Nahakul Subedi and Abdulaziz Musalman scraped the petition filed by former Chief Minister Kedar Karki on Tuesday.
The full bench had been hearing the case since Sunday.

Province Chief Parshuram Khapung had invited provincial assembly members to stake a claim for forming a new government on May 9, 30 days after assembly members withdrew their support for Karki. Khapung then appointed Hikmat Kumar Karki as the Chief Minister in accordance with Article 168 (5) of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015.

Former Chief Minister Karki challenged the decision at the apex court, arguing that support extended to him by provincial assembly members could not be withdrawn based on the whip of their political parties.