KATHMANDU, Feb 21: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an injunction order prohibiting the closure of roads under the pretext of VIP motorcades. A joint bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Mahesh Sharma Poudel issued the mandamus on Tuesday.
Advocate Dyaneshwar Koirala filed a writ petition on February 2, 2018, stating that ordinary citizens were facing difficulties due to VIP motorcades. The writ petitioner named the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Nepal Police as defendants.
Riders bulldoze VIP motorcade halt for the first time ever
On February 6, 2018, the SC issued a show cause order. Justice Tej Bahadur KC's bench directed the defendants to submit a written response within 15 days. However, the writ petitioner, Koirala, claimed that the Nepal Police did not provide a written reply.
The petitioner urged that roads should not be cleared and the public should not suffer in the name of VIP movements. It was highlighted that common people face inconvenience on the roads when the President and Vice President travel.
The writ petitioner argued that the fundamental rights of individuals were violated when the public was inconvenienced by road closures during official ceremonies. As of now, the SC has not issued a written order on the matter.
The writ petitioner demanded for the revocation of provisions that harm the freedom in the through the order of expulsion and a mandate should be issued to ensure the highest respect for fundamental rights in accordance with the constitution.
