Hearing on Koshi dispute today

Kathmandu: The hearing of the Koshi provincial government dispute case has been scheduled before the full bench of Justices Kumar Regmi, Nahakul Subedi and Abdul Aziz Musalman. Earlier, the court had set a date for the final verdict on the dispute on Thursday. The joint bench had sent it to the full bench for hearing.

The then Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Kedar Karki, has been insisting that he could not be removed from the post of CM as he was appointed as per Article 168(5) of the Constitution. But, after Hikmat Karki was appointed as the CM of the province, Karki filed a writ at the apex court. Karki claimed that the decision to remove him was unconstitutional as he was appointed as the Chief Minister under Article 168(5) of the Constitution.

In the writ, the single bench had called for a discussion with written answers saying that the questions of five constitutional disputes should be resolved. After the same question was raised in the joint bench, it was sent to the full bench. It seems that hearing on Karki's writ will start from today.

Lawyers defending Karki will start the debate. After their arguments, the government lawyers will argue. After the government side, there will be a debate on behalf of Chief Minister Karki. Finally, the writ petitioners will be heard in response. After the hearing, the Supreme Court will give a final verdict.

If the Supreme Court issues the verdict in Kedar's favor, then he will be repappointed as the CM of the Province. If his plea is dismissed, Hikmat Karki will continue. The verdict in this dispute is expected to serve as a precedent in the formation of provincial governments in the coming days.