SC issues show cause order on cabinet reshuffle

Kathmandu, June 08: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a show cause order to the government to provide a written reply within 15 days on the writ petition filed against the recent reshuffle and expansion of the Council of Ministers.

The single bench of Justice Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada delivered the show cause order on the writ petition that demanded revocation of the cabinet reshuffle on June 4. Justice Khatiwada’s bench has also summoned the both parties (the petitioner and defendants) on June19 for further deliberation on the matter.

Six advocates including senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi and advocate Kanchan Krishna Neupane had filed a writ petition at the apex court demanding nullification of the cabinet reshuffle. PM Oli reshuffled the Cabinet on June 4.

The Cabinet now has three deputy PMs, 12 ministers and two state ministers. The petitioners claimed that the government formed under Article 76(3) of the Constitution currently is of caretaker status and cannot reshuffle and expand Cabinet like regular governments.

The petitions argue that a caretaker government can only carry out the day-to-day works of the administration and that expansion of Cabinet is unconstitutional. The SC has invited both the sides for hearing on June 22 to decide whether an interim order needs to be issued or not. Defendants in the writ petitions are the Office of the President, and the Prime Minister, among others.