By Our Reporter
It seems political parties and leaders in Nepal hardly learn a lesson from their past mistakes and they resort to unconstitutional means to grab the power. It is evident from the latest verdict of the Supreme Court which relieved Chief Minister Khagraj Adhikari from his position citing that the vote of confidence won by him was not constitutional. Earlier, a verdict of the SC had revoked the appointment of the Chief Minister of Koshi on the same ground.
The Supreme Court on Monday invalidated the vote of confidence won by the Chief Minister of Gandaki Province KhagAdhikari.
A joint bench of Justices Kumar Regmi and Sunil Kumar Pokharel invalidated the vote of confidence garnered by Chief Minister Adhikari stating that it was not as provisioned in the Constitution.
Deciding that the 30 votes garnered by Adhikari of the CPN (UML) in the 60-member Provincial Assembly were not a majority, the SC issued a mandamus order to appoint Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Surendra Raj Pandey to the post of the Chief Minister within 48 hours.
Appointed to the post of Chief Minister on April 24 as per Article 198 (2) of the Constitution, Adhikari had sought a vote of confidence on May 5 and received 30 votes, which Speaker Krishna Dhital announced was a majority.
However, SC quashed the Speaker’s declaration through a certiorari.
“This mandamus order is issued in the name of defendants, including the Chief of the Gandaki Province to complete the task of appointing the Chief Minister as per Article 168 (3) of the constitution within 48 hours,” read the SC verdict.
In the Gandaki Provincial Assembly, Nepali Congress is the largest party with 27 seats. However, Pandey may also not be able to show his majority.
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