Nepal SC issues show-cause on Regmi appointment

Nepal's Supreme Court today issued a show-cause notice to defendants of a Public Interest Litigation, including President Ram Baran Yadav, over the appointment of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi as the head of the Interim Election Government.
After an initial hearing on a writ filed by advocate Subas Acharya, a single bench of Justice Girish Chandra Lal sought clarification from the defendants including the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, as well as �the leaders of four major parties that constitute the High Level Political Committee within 15 days.
A single bench of Justice Girish Chandra Lal issued the order in response to the petition filed by�Advocate Subash Acharya.

Petitioner has maintained that the ordinance approved by the president in this regard is against the basic structure of the constitution.
Further, he says that the decision to form a chief-justice led government is also against the principle of separation of powers whereby one individual cannot hold more than one post.
"No political party leader or president can make changes to the constitution or can change the basic structure of the constitution under the pretext of removing constitutional difficulties," reads the petition.
The other defendants in the petition include Chairman of the Interim Government Khil Raj Regmi, UCPN (Maoist) chief Prachanda, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and Madhesi Janadhikar orum-Loktantrik Chairman Bijaya Gachhadar who represents the Joint Madhesi Front.