Previous Blogs on the issue
- (a)Constitutional Crises in Nepal 24-12-20
- (b)Nepal India Road Crises May 20
Background
Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after President Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). On February 23, the apex court reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives, in a setback to embattled Prime Minister Oli who was preparing for snap polls.
Current issue
President Bidya Devi Bhandari had dissolved the 275-member lower house for the second time in five months on May 22 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19.
Last week, the Election Commission had announced the schedule for mid-term elections despite the uncertainty over polls.
A total of 30 writ petitions had been filed against the of the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR). As many as 146 lawmakers of the HoR including President Sher Bahadur Deuba of Nepali Congress (NC) filed the writ petitions demanding the reinstatement of the House and to appoint Deuba as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Nepal’s Supreme Court passed an order on the appointment of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba as prime minister of the country within two days. The top court also reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives for the second time in nearly five months.
The bench led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana had concluded hearings in the case last week. The bench comprised four other senior most justices. While several writ petitions had been filed against Oli’s move, the court had decided to issue a verdict on the petition filed by the main opposition leader Sher Bahadur Deuba first and began the hearing.
Anti-government protesters who has intensified their protest with approaching hearing dates have vowed to continue their protest until the lower house is reinstated.