One of the lawyers consulted said that they were unanimous in their suggestion on the need to reverse the May-3 decision but had different opinions on the process involved.
Advocate Shambhu Thapa had suggested the government ask Katawal to file a petition seeking reversal of his dismissal. But other lawyers rejected Thapa´s suggestion, saying that doing so would mean legitimizing the earlier government´s decision, said another lawyer who attended the meeting.
Other lawyers also were not clear about the process for reversing the May-3 decision, which is at the center of the current political stalemate in the country. The decision led the Maoist-led government to step down on May 4, leading to a sharp polarization between the Maoists and other political parties.
The prime ministers had asked the lawyers for their opinions on four issues related to Katawal´s dismissal, appointment of Lt Gen Khadka as acting army chief, the President´s move blocking Katawal´s sacking and the subjudice state of the controversy over Katawal´s removal. Other ministers, excluding Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala, were present during the prime minister´s meeting with the lawyers.
Meanwhile, the cabinet is likely on Thursday to revoke the May-3 decision dismissing Katawal. The prime minister is learnt to have given word to senior leaders of other parties about taking a decision to this effect on Thursday.
Initially, the prime minister and Nepali Congress president Girija Koirala had agreed to make Khadka the prime minister´s security advisor. Political leaders are weighing two options - making Khadka security advisor to the prime minister or transferring him to the cabinet on deputation.
The lawyers consulted by the prime minister included senior advocates Bishwa Kant Mainali, Radhe Shyam Adhikari, Badri Bahadur Karki, Harihar Dahal and advocates Agni Kharel, Shambhu Thapa, Hari Upreti, Dr Bhimarjun Acharya, Tika Ram Bhattarai, Narendra Raj Pathak and Hari Krishna Karki.
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