SC issues interim order directing CM of Gandaki Province to avoid long-term impact decisions

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an interim order, instructing the Chief Minister of Gandaki Province to refrain from making any decisions with long-term implications.

Justice Binod Sharma, presiding over a single bench, issued this order on Wednesday pending the final resolution of a complaint.

The order comes amidst a dispute surrounding the appointment of Khagaraj Adhikari as Chief Minister, whose claim to the position was based on the inclusion of the Speaker's vote, a move contested as unconstitutional by Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader and outgoing Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, Surendra Pandey.

The SC has scheduled a hearing for April 22 to expedite the resolution of the dispute. Notably, a similar case in the Koshi Province, where CPN (UML) challenged the Nepali Congress, resulted in an order from the apex court prohibiting the inclusion of the Speaker's vote.

The interim order aims to maintain the status quo and prevent decisions that could have enduring consequences until the legal dispute is resolved.