SC refuses to issue interim order in writ demanding separate ballot papers

Kathmandu / Oct 18 : The Supreme Court today refused to issue an interim order in response to a writ filed at the court, demanding the printing of separate ballot papers for the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies.

A division bench comprising judges Deepak Raj Joshi and Purushottam Bhandari refused to entertain the writ, citing the printing of ballot papers towards the proportional representation (PR) for the first-phase election has already commenced and it held no meaning to issue the order at this backdrop.

Twin elections have been scheduled for November 26 and December 7 in two phases and the printing of PR ballots commenced on October 3, the court cites in the verdict.

Rastriya Janata Party (RJP) vice chair and parliamentary party leader Sarbendranath Shukla on October 8 moved the apex court, challenging the EC decision to use the same ballot paper towards PR electoral system in both elections.

Likewise, the order states that there was no rationale of speaking about the stay order in response to the application that has been registered when the printing of the ballot papers towards the proportional election system have already been started as per the schedule of the Election Commission approving the election schedule stating that the printing of ballot papers towards the first-past-the-post would be started from October 27.

In the hearings on the writ held on October 10, the Supreme Court issued a show-cause notice in the name of the defendants and called both sides to a discussion on October 17. RSS