On Wednesday, newly-appointed justices Abdesh Kumar Yadav and Bharat Raj Upreti held the hearing on the petition throughout the day but issued an order for a fresh hearing on the case at the end.“A new hearing date be fixed for the petition,” the justices ruled in a written order, without giving any reason.
Dhamala’s lawyers argued that the order dismissing the day-long hearing for a fresh hearing is not common in the judiciary. They maintained that the judges can normally postpone the hearing but cannot dismiss the day-long hearing and order a fresh hearing, Dhamala’s lawyer Madhav Baskota said.
“The order for a fresh hearing means that the justices want to get rid of the case and shift it to another bench,” Baskota said.
However, advocate Bhimarjun Acharya said that the bench can order for a fresh hearing because it was a matter of discretion of the concerned bench. “However it is very uncommon to dismiss the day-long hearing,” Acharya argued.
In the meantime, the Supreme Court said it would hold a fresh hearing on the Dhamala’s petition Thursday.
‘More charges against Dhamala’
The government lawyers who took part in the hearing on the petition on Wednesday said that the police were investigating Dhamala’s involvement in other criminal activities. However, they did not reveal the crimes.
“Police are investigating into other crimes committed by Dhamala,” said government lawyer Yuvraj Subedi, showing a file containing the investigation into the allegation against Dhamala.
“More facts relating to Dhamala’s case are coming out regarding his crimes,” Subedi argued before the bench.
Related story
Hearing on case against cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane today
