Supreme Court Schedules Hearing on Nepali Congress Legitimacy Dispute

Kathmandu. The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for the petition filed by the faction led by outgoing President Sher Bahadur Deuba against the Election Commission's decision to grant official recognition to the Gagan Thapa faction of the Nepali Congress.

The case has been assigned to a joint bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla and Justice Meghraj Pokharel. Previously, the Supreme Court had declined to issue an interim order regarding the legitimacy dispute within the Nepali Congress.

On 2082 Magh 6, a single bench of Justice Sunil Kumar Pokharel refused to issue an interim order and instead directed the Election Commission and other parties to submit a written response. The hearing was scheduled following the submission of written responses by the Election Commission, the Nepali Congress party office, and President Gagan Thapa.

The legitimacy dispute arose after the faction led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma convened a special general convention and elected a new working committee. Former Acting President Purna Bahadur Khadka had filed the writ petition in court.

The petition, filed by Shrawan Kumar Shrestha on behalf of leaders Deuba and Khadka, demands the annulment of the Election Commission's decision and the dissolution of the newly elected working committee, labeling it illegal.

The Deuba faction has consistently rejected the special general convention, arguing that it lacks justification given that the date for the regular general convention has already been set.