SC again defers hearing on case against Home Minister Lamichhane

Published On: June 18, 2024 01:17 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, June 18: The Supreme Court (SC) could not conduct the hearing on a writ petition filed against Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane today.

The hearing which was scheduled to be presided over by a joint bench of Justices Binod Sharma and Manoj Kumar Sharma, has been deferred.

Advocate Anupam Bhattarai filed a writ petition at the SC seeking the suspension of Rabi Lamichhane from the position of home minister, citing potential interference in the ongoing investigation into a cooperative fraud case.

The petition also aims to annul a letter from the Attorney General’s Office that states that no cooperative fraud case exists against Lamichhane.

The defendants named in the writ petition include the Attorney General’s Office, Attorney General Dinmani Pokharel, and Home Minister Lamichhane.

Bhattarai argues that Lamichhane’s roles as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister could unduly influence and negatively impact the investigation process. An interim order has been requested to suspend Lamichhane from his ministerial post while the investigation proceeds. This request has been directed towards the Government of Nepal, the Prime Minister, and the Council of Ministers.

Previously, a bench consisting of Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Til Prasad Shrestha had directed the summoning of the charge-sheet filed in the Rupandehi District Court seeking Lamichhane’s suspension.

During arguments, the petitioners emphasized that Lamichhane’s name and details of loans taken by him were mentioned in the charge-sheet filed in the Rupandehi District Court.

In their order, Justices Sharma and Shrestha clarified their commitment to prioritize the case according to previous directives, thereby addressing any ambiguities relating to the cooperative fraud dispute involving GB Rai as well.

If the hearing had taken place today, it would be determined whether to issue an interim order in the case. If the apex court had issued an interim order, Home Minister Lamichhane would have been suspended from his post.