Dissolution of the lower house of Parliament was unconstitutional, Nepal’s Supreme Court has ruled. A five-judge Constitution bench has also ordered that a session of the 275-member House of Representatives be called within 13 days.
Amid an ongoing power tussle within the ruling party NCP, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had recommended dissolution of the House, and President Vidya Devi Bhandari promptly obliged on December 20 last year. The government had even suggested holding snap polls in April/May this year.
Oli’s decision led to massive street protests and a clutch of petitions was filed in the Supreme Court, challenging the government’s decision. The court no merit in the logic put forth by Oli that there was no possibility of forming a new government and that the country needed a fresh mandate for stability.
While Oli’s rival camp in the NCP cheered the court verdict, there’s been no word from the government. But after the court snub, silence may no longer be golden.
