Pleading by Speaker’s lawyers over, petitioners’ reply debate begins

KATHMANDU, July 4: Debates by legal practitioners representing Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota on the House dissolution case have concluded. 

Senior advocates Shyam Kharel, Upendra Keshari Neupane, Laba Kumar Mainali and advocates duo Meghraj Pokharel and Shree Krishan Subedi pleaded on behalf of the Speaker in the allotted two hours, on Sunday. 

With the Speakers’ debate coming to an end, the petitioners’ lawyers began the reply debate on Sunday itself. 

Senior advocate Raman Shrestha presented his arguments on the case while he replied to the defendants. He pleaded for an hour of the three hours allotted to the plaintiffs for a reply debate. 

The plaintiffs are expected to conclude their debate on Monday which will then be followed by an amicus curiae session where four members of the curiae will present their opinion on the case. 

A constitutional bench led by Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana has been hearing the case for more than a month after more than two dozen writ petitions have been filed at the apex court challenging the May 22 House dissolution move.