National
NC warns govt over ordinance to rejig judiciary
Alarmed by the KP Sharma Oli government’s preparations to bring an ordinance to replace the existing Appellate Courts with provincial High Courts, the main opposition Nepali Congress has warned the government not to bypass Parliament on the issue.Anil Giri
Alarmed by the KP Sharma Oli government’s preparations to bring an ordinance to replace the existing Appellate Courts with provincial High Courts, the main opposition Nepali Congress has warned the government not to bypass Parliament on the issue.
NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba told PM Oli on Thursday that his party strongly objected to the government’s plan and that it would protest the decision in Parliament and outside.
During a telephone call, Deuba told the PM that it would be unconstitutional to introduce an ordinance, leaders privy to Deuba’s conversation with the PM said. “We will oppose the move in and outside Parliament in the capacity of the main opposition,” said Deuba, warning that the largest party would employ all means to obstruct the next session of Parliament, when such an ordinance will have to be presented for endorsement.
The PM is said to have offered to look into the issue but stopped short of making any commitment, according to an NC leader. “The move is premature as the issue of state demarcation is yet to be settled,” said the leader.
The government intends to create High Courts and appoint 65 judges, including chief judges, through an ordinance.
The Ministry of Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has drafted the ordinance. The constitution adopted in September last year requires High Courts to be set up within a year of the statute’s promulgation.
The appellate courts number 16 while there will be seven High Courts in as many provinces. Deuba also made a telephone call to ruling UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to register his protest.
Dahal reportedly expressed his ignorance about the developments. Earlier on Thursday, an informal meeting of the Congress convened at Deuba’s residence had decided to deplore the move.