SC order allows swearing-in of NA members recommend by Oli-govt

Kathmandu / Mar 7: The Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday ordered the government to allow the three members of the National Assembly (NA) recommended by the KP Sharma Oli-led government to take the oath of office and secrecy.

A division bench of Justices Kedar Prasad Chalise and Sarada Prasad Ghimire today scraped the short-term interim order issued by the government, paving the way for the swearing-in of Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Ram Narayan Bidari and Bimala Poudel that was stalled on Sunday. Though the swearing-in was stalled, Khatiwada has been appointed as Finance Minister.

The apex court observed that the short-term interim need not be continued as there is no clear provision for the president to nominate the members recommend by the erstwhile government. Attorney General Agni Kharel, advocate Shambhu Thapa, Tikaram Bhattarai, among other senior attorneys had argued on behalf of the government.

Earlier on February 25, the SC had issued an interim order directing the government not to administer the oath of office and secrecy to the three National Assembly members nominated by President on the recommendation of Oli-led government. The order was issued by Justice Prakashman Singh Raut.

Though the erstwhile Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government had recommended Gopal Kumar Basnet, Krishna Prasad Poudel and Chandani Joshi for nomination to the NA on February 9, the new government under Oli on February 20 withdrew their names and sent the names of Khadiwada, Bidari and Poudel to President Bidya Devi Bhandari for nomination.