KATHMANDU, July 14: Outgoing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has vacated the Prime Minister's official residence at Baluwatar and shifted to his private house in Balkot of Bhaktapur today.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari had on Tuesday appointed Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba the new Prime Minister in line with the Supreme Court's mandamus for the same.
The Supreme Court had on Monday issued a decision reinstating the dissolved House of Representatives and the mandamus order.
The outgoing PM Oli shifted from the PM's official residence today after Deuba took the oath of office and secrecy of the Prime Minister on Tuesday.
Organisations close to the CPN (UML) and Oli's supporters escorted him to Balkot, chanting slogans in his support.
KATHMANDU, July 13: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has opined that the Supreme Court has tried to deal a blow to the party system by meddling in the political topic through excessive judicial activism.
The Prime Minister said this in his address to the nation today. He said the destination could not be reached by 'laying hands in' sometimes what he called topics which had not been demanded at all, referring to the Supreme Court's verdict on Monday.
"The players are responsible for playing the game. But when the referee himself/herself has the desire to play the game, then it creates problem. The party system has been dealt a blow by the court's decision. Attempts have been made to amend the constitution. A situation has been created in which people's faith in the State organs would be lost and a sense of despondency would come in the people which might bring frightening consequences," PM Oli said.
The Supreme Court's verdict on Monday has reinstated the House of Representatives and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba has been appointed the Prime Minister today itself.
Prime Minister Oli, on the last day in office, recalled that he had exited from the government before this also but again reached the government's leadership through people's vote. Stating that sometimes there is contradiction between people's aspirations and the parliamentary numbers, he said now contradictions were seen in the decision of the other bodies of the State as well.
"I have unwavering faith in the people. This is not the end. I am not at all concerned because I am leaving the government. I pursued development in an unprecedented manner with new vision and with all sincerity keeping the welfare and service of the country and the people in mind," PM Oli stressed.
According to the PM, the government has become successful in carrying out effective works in controlling the pandemic even in adverse situation. "I need not publicise the works here. We have to work for the country and the people. I will shoulder that responsibility no matter where I am," he asserted.
'Journey towards prosperity moving ahead along with pandemic control'
PM Oli said his government has continued with the journey of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' along with prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic through restraint, alertness and self-confidence.
He said although the various waves of the coronavirus pandemic dealt a serious blow to the journey of prosperity, the journey had to be continued forward without being dejected.
PM Oli reiterated that all the citizens would be administered the vaccines free of cost as efforts were on to bring the vaccine against COVID-19 despite its shortage throughout the world.
Achievements made in nationality, development and prosperity in spite of non-cooperation
The Prime Minister said the present government has worked in favour of nationality, development and prosperity even amid 'non-cooperation and attack from all sides'.
He made it clear that the government has expedited physical infrastructure development and strengthened the federalism through the implementation of the new constitution during this period despite the non-cooperation from those within (the party) to the government and the tendency to only make negative comments while not publicising the achievements made.
Expressing condolences over the death of those who lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic and the recent floods and landslides, PM Oli said the government has made arrangement for providing free medical treatment to those who are sick and injured. He added that the government has moved forward with clear plans and programmes for reconstruction, construction of other infrastructures and for social development.
He also drew the attention of all towards what he called the serious conspiracies to make the country unsuccessful by creating discord and conflict in the nation when what was required is to work for controlling the pandemic and the nation's development without wasting any time as the country is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stating that although it was not necessary to become despondent and irritated, he said the outcome and the consequences of the Supreme Court's Monday verdict would be seen in the coming days. He alleged that attempts have been made to take the politics in the opposite direction instead of carrying out works towards consolidation of national
sovereignty and the country's independence.
PM Oli said he wished for a successful remaining term of the House of Representatives and that the general election is held on time. He said a question has arisen whether the rule of law and the democracy would be undermined.
Recalling that he has spent seven decades working for democracy, PM and the UML parliamentary party leader Oli said he has not conceived of using any 'inappropriate unpolitical gimmicks' except politics.
"There is no other topic in my heart and mind other than the country's sovereignty, independence, security, development, good governance, building civilized society and prosperity with social justice," PM Oli said, adding that he had no other personal interest other than the promotion of the democratic system and a matching honest resolve required for making Nepal beautiful and prosperous.
"I consider the people as empowered whenever I join the government or exit from it. However, today I am ousted by the orders of the court. My hope and commitment towards democracy and my love for the country and the people will not be weakened."
KATHMANDU, June 10: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is expanding the Council of Ministers on Thursday.
According to Bishnu Rijal, a leader of the ruling CPN-UML, PM Oli is preparing to induct seven ministers and a minister of state at 4 PM today.
Oli is appointing new ministers for seven ministries. He had made several changes in his Cabinet on June 4.
A writ petititon has been registered at the Supreme Court seeking nullification of the latest reshuffle. The Supreme Court, on June 8 refused to issue an interim order on the writ petitions filed against the regic of the Council of the Ministers.
A single bench of Justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada issued a show-cause order in the name of the defendant. Hearing the writ petitions, the bench ordered both the sides to be present before the court on June 22.
KATHMANDU, June 8: The Supreme Court has refused to issue an interim order on the writ petitions filed against the recent regic of the Council of the Ministers.
A single bench of Justice Ishwar Prasad Khatiwada, on Tuesday, issued, however, issued a show-cause order in the name of the defendant.
Hearing the writ petitions, the bench ordered both the sides to be present before the court on June 22.
Senior advocate Dinesh Tripathi and advocates Kanchan Krishna Neupane, Raj Kumar Suwal, Shalikram Sapkota, Sita Devi Shrestha and Birendra Prasas Shah, on Monday, registered a writ petition arguing that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, as the caretaker prime minister, could not make changes in his Cabinet.
The petitioners demanded the court nullify the reshuffle and issue an interim order.
PM Oli made several changes in his Cabinet on Friday relieving some of the ministers from his party, CPN-UML while picking ten others from the Thakur faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP).
24 writ petitions registered at Supreme Court against House dissolution, 4 others in favor of PM Oli
KATHMANDU, May 25: As many as 24 writ petitions have been registered at the Supreme Court (SC) against the ‘unconstitutional’ dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR).
Following the House dissolution on May 22 by President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, 146 outgoing lawmakers belonging to the opposition alliance reached the apex court in-person on Monday and registered a writ petition demanding House restoration and appointment of Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba. The petitioners claimed that the PM KP Oli-led government does not have a legitimacy to remain in power as the president had already called the MPs for new government formation.
According to the Supreme Court administration, as many as 28 writ petitions were filed at the court as of Monday including 24 against the House dissolution move. Four other petitions, however, were registered in favor of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
While nine of the 28 writ petitions will be forwarded to the Constitutional Bench, 19 others will be settled through the general bench.
When will hearing begin?
According to the SC administration, all the petitions will be entered into the computer record on Tuesday. There is public holiday on Wednesday on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti. Hearing at the Constitution Bench does not take place on Thursday. Therefore, hearing on the nine writ petitions including the one by 146 lawmakers is likely to begin on Friday.
Hearing at the general bench over the 19 writ petitions will begin Thursday onwards, according to a source at the SC.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved parliament at the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, as per the Article 76 (7) of the Constitution of Nepal. Earlier, Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba laid a claim for a new government with the support of 149 lawmakers as the President had called upon the members of the lower house of parliament to stake their claim for the new government formation as per Article 76 (5). Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who had opted not to take a trust vote in parliament as per Article 76 (4), also staked a claim for a new government. President Bhandari, however, rejected both the claims.
KATHMANDU, May 18: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli need not take oath of office and secrecy again.
PM Oli was spared of taking the oath for second time after a single bench of Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana, during preliminary hearing, refused to issue interim order in response to the writ petition filed challenging the PM Oli’s oath.
The order required submitting written response within 15 days through the Office of the Attorney General.
Senior advocate Dr Chandra Kanta Gyawali and advocates Lokendra Oli, Nabaraj Adhikari, Santosh Bhandari and Raj Kumar Suwal on Monday registered separate four writ petitions against PM Oli's the first oath of office and secrecy.
The writ petition mentioned that the Prime Minister did not pronounce some words while taking oath of office and secrecy from the President, which is unconstitutional and that the oath of office and secrecy could not be taken using the word in own’s favour.
The writ sought nullification through an interim order of the (re) appointments of seven ministers who are not the members in the Federal Parliament. The court verdict states the issue would be discussed after it receives a reply in writing in regard with the matter.
The writ argued that the Prime Minister rejecting to say the words ‘I Vow’ while taking oath of office and secrecy from President Bidya Devi Bhandari was an insult to the Institution of the Presidency. The Prime Minister said ‘no need of this’ instead of ‘I Vow’ during the oath taking.
The Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Minister for Irrigation, Energy and Water Resources Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta, Minister for Urban Development Prabhu Shah, Minister for Water Supplies and Sanitation Manichandra Thapa, Minister for Employment and Social Security Gaurishankar Chaudhary and Minister for Youth and Sports Dawa Tamang among others were named as the defendants in the writ.
