SC dismisses petition against Nepal-India power trade agreement

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ petition filed against the long-term power trade agreement between the governments of Nepal and India.

A division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, and Justices Sapana Pradhan Malla and Mahesh Sharma Poudel took the decision on Tuesday.

The bench also issued a directive order on some aspects of the agreement. Supreme Court Spokesperson Achyut Kuikel told Himal Press the full directive order is yet to be made public.

The government led by then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal signed the 25-year long-term power trade agreement with India on January 1. Under this agreement, India will import 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal over 10 years.

Former Water Resources Ministry secretary Surya Nath Upadhyay and others had filed the writ petition, claiming that the agreement violated Nepal’s sovereignty.