National
Increasing number of local units: SC vacates its earlier interim order
The Supreme Court on Thursday vacated its May 26 interim order against the Cabinet’s May 22 decision to add 22 local units in 12 Tarai districts, paving the way for the government to increase the number of local units.The Supreme Court on Thursday vacated its May 26 interim order against the Cabinet’s May 22 decision to add 22 local units in 12 Tarai districts, paving the way for the government to increase the number of local units.
The government, however, can increase the number of local units only in eight districts of Province 2 where the third phase of local elections is scheduled for September 18. Local elections in other districts have already been held.
A division bench of Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli and Justice Purushottam Bhandari also quashed the writ filed by Dhan Bahadur Shrestha and Krishna Chandra Jha who had challenged the government’s decision, said Mahendra Upadhyay, spokesperson for the apex court.
The government was yet to respond to the SC’s Thursday move.
But Election Commissioner Narendra Dahal said the Election Commission could face a tough time if elections in Province 2 were to be held after increasing the number of local units.
The SC decision has created pressure on the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N), which has decided not to participate in the Province 2 polls.
Increasing the number of local units has been one of the demands of the RJP-N.
RJP-N Coordinator Mahantha Thakur welcomed the SC move, but said the party would consider taking part in the polls “if the government addresses other demands”.
Constitution amendment is one of the key demands of the RJP-N.
If the government sticks to its earlier decision of adding local units, Province 2 districts will have eight more local units—two each in Sunsari and Rautahat and one each in Parsa, Dhanusa, Bara and Saptari.
This will mean elections on September 18 will take place in 134 local units.