Supreme Court summons PM, ex-CJs and ex-speaker Dhungana to explain statements ‘amounting to contempt’

Kathmandu, January 28

The Supreme Court has summoned Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli among six persons to explain their statements referring to the sub-judice case of the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

A single bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma on Thursday heard three writ petitions filed against PM Oli; four former chief justices Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Anup Raj Sharma, Kalyan Shrestha and Sushila Karki; and former HoR speaker and senior advocate Daman Nath Dhungana. In the petitions, the petitioners had claimed they recently made different statements about the sub-judice case that disrespected the independent judiciary and hence amount to the contempt of court.

Whereas Oli had made a disrespectful statement against a senior advocate arguing against his decision, the five others had argued the decision is against the constitution.

The bench has told the defendants to present themselves at the court within seven days since receiving the order.