Order for Prime Minister and former Chief Justices to appear in person

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court has ordered Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, four former Chief Justices and former Speaker Damnath Dhungana to appear before the court in person within seven days in a contempt case. 

Justice Manoj Kumar Sharma passed the order after hearing four petitions related to contempt on a single bench. 

After hearing the writ petition, they have been issued an order to file a written reply within seven days except for the time limit. There is probably no precedent for the incumbent Prime Minister and former Chief Justice to be called in person to testify in a contempt case.

According to high-level sources, ordering the person to submit a written reply means that the person concerned has to appear in person. Otherwise, an order usually would be to submit a written reply in person or through a representative.

Separate petitions were filed alleging that Prime Minister KP Oli, former Chief Justices Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Kalyan Shrestha, Sushila Karki, Anupraj Sharma and former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana spoke in a way that would affect the case under consideration.